The New York State Attorney General (Director Letitia James) warned against relying on information provided by artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on the 1st, four days before the general election. The
AI chatbots are providing inaccurate or incorrect information in response to questions about when, how, and where to vote in the general election, and this could seriously infringe on voters’ precious voting rights. Attorney General James emphasized that “the State Attorney’s Office conducted sample tests and found that many AI chatbots were providing false or misleading information about voting,” and warned that “voters should not rely on the information provided by AI chatbots.”
According to the State Attorney’s Office, some AI chatbots incorrectly provided the deadline for new voter registration for the general election. If they had relied on this information, potential voters who had completed new voter registration before the deadline and were able to exercise their right to vote for the first time in their lives could have given up on voting altogether.
Incorrect information about polling places was also found. In response to questions about early voting in Brooklyn, New York City, some AI chatbots provided the information that “early voting is available at all polling places,” which is incorrect information because voters living in New York City can only vote early at the polling place assigned to them based on their residence.
The State Attorney’s Office urges voters to refer to the State Attorney’s Office, the New York State Board of Elections, each county and city board of elections website, and official promotional materials sent by each election commission for accurate information about voting. Meanwhile, the State Attorney’s Office will operate a ‘phone hotline (1-866-390-2992)’ related to voting until the 6th, the day after the election.
The phone hotline, where you can report fake news such as AI-based deepfake fake videos and various complaints such as false information related to voting, will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of early voting on the 3rd, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day (the 5th), and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 4th and 6th, around Election Day. You can also file a written report to the State Attorney’s Office at any time through the online https://electionhotline.ag.ny.gov/.