In a novel political move, Bentley Hensel, an independent candidate for the United States Congress in Virginia's 8th District, utilized an AI chatbot called DonBot to represent his opponent Don Beyer during a debate on October 17, 2024. Beyer did not attend the debate, prompting Hensel to create the AI bot to convey Beyer's policy views, drawing from public statements and campaign materials. Despite initial development using OpenAI’s technology, Hensel migrated DonBot to open-source models prior to the event, following the suspension of his OpenAI account due to political usage. The debate, which featured Hensel, another candidate David Kennedy, and the virtual DonBot, experienced technical glitches, affecting DonBot's audibility at times. Both candidates have advocated for technological innovation and regulation in AI, with Beyer having introduced legislation aimed at mitigating AI risks in governance. This unprecedented event underscores the increasing intersection of AI and politics, particularly as election candidates grapple with technology-related issues in the upcoming elections.

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