The UK’s First AI MP Bot
In a groundbreaking move for UK politics, Member of Parliament Mark Sewards has launched the first AI bot of its kind, offering constituents a new way to engage with their representative. The bot is an avatar of Sewards, combining a cartoon image with a synthesised version of his real voice. Developed by Neural Voice, a company known for creating AI assistants for customer service, the bot is accessible online.
Users can speak their questions, which are transcribed, and the AI responds in a voice that sounds like the MP for Leeds South West and Morley. This innovative approach is designed to provide an additional point of contact for constituents, allowing them to ask questions about local issues and policy at any time, day or night.
A Prototype for Constituent Engagement
Mark Sewards described the bot as a “prototype AI model” intended to offer an “additional way to engage with their MP.” He clarified that the bot is not meant to replace his other work but rather to provide a supplementary option for communication. Sewards noted that the idea came from one of his constituents, Jeremy Smith, who is a co-founder of the AI startup Neural Voice.
All conversations with the bot will be reviewed by Sewards’ team, who can then take action on the most pressing matters. This process also serves to train the bot, with the goal of improving its responses and making it a more effective tool over time.
Facing Accusations of Laziness
The launch of the AI bot has not been without controversy. On social media, Sewards has faced significant criticism, with many accusing him of laziness and of trying to avoid personal engagement with his constituents. Critics have questioned the bot’s true usefulness, dismissing it as a poor substitute for direct human interaction.
These concerns are fuelled by Seward’s past admissions about struggling with the heavy workload of an MP. Shortly after taking office, he told the BBC that it was “not possible for one person” to handle the thousands of pieces of casework that had accumulated, suggesting a potential motivation for adopting the AI assistant.
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The Inherent Risks of AI Avatars
Beyond the accusations of laziness, the use of AI avatars like this one comes with a number of inherent risks. One major concern is the potential for blunt, robotic, or even threatening responses to sensitive topics, which could cause distress to constituents seeking help. This is a real risk, as similar AI models have been known to produce highly inappropriate or harmful content. There is also a significant question of data security.
Past chatbots have been found to expose confidential conversation details to the public and to third-party contractors, raising concerns about the privacy of constituent information. Additionally, AI trained on publicly available data can inherit existing biases and spread misinformation, which could be particularly dangerous when the bot represents a politician.
Limitations and Unanswered Questions
Despite the claims of its potential, the bot’s usefulness is limited by several factors. It is unclear what data sources inform the bot’s foundational knowledge, and initial tests have revealed some significant gaps. For example, news outlets have reported that Seward’s chatbot declines to discuss a number of sensitive political topics, including the death penalty and other prominent politicians.
The Guardian also found that the bot struggled to accurately transcribe questions from someone with a strong Yorkshire accent, highlighting potential issues with its voice recognition capabilities. These limitations suggest that the bot may not be as effective or as widely useful as its creators intend and that it may require a significant amount of further training to be a reliable tool for a diverse range of constituents.
AI’s Growing Role in UK Government
While Sewards’ bot is the first of its kind for a serving MP, the use of AI in the UK government is a growing trend. In the 2024 general election, an AI MP named “AI Steve”, a digital avatar also created by Neural Voice, stood as a candidate. Although the human behind the avatar would have taken the seat, the initiative showed a growing interest in using AI for political engagement.
The UK government itself has been intensifying its efforts to integrate AI across various operations to improve efficiency. In January, it introduced “Humphrey”, a suite of AI tools designed to expedite policy-making. These initiatives, in partnership with companies like OpenAI, aim to apply AI solutions to taxpayer-funded services such as justice, defence, and education, with the goal of making them more effective for businesses and citizens alike.
The Future of AI in Public Service
The launch of Mark Sewards’ AI bot marks a significant moment in the intersection of technology and public service. While it offers a glimpse into a potential future where constituents can access their representatives 24/7, it also raises critical questions about the nature of political engagement, data security, and the ethical implications of using AI in such a public-facing role.
The debate surrounding this bot highlights the tension between the promise of technological efficiency and the fundamental human element of political representation. As the UK government continues to explore and implement AI solutions across its various sectors, the conversation sparked by this pioneering MP’s bot will undoubtedly shape the future of how technology is integrated into the fabric of public life and governance.
