Fringe political party in Japan envisions a chatbot penguin as its future leader
In a groundbreaking move, a fringe political party in Japan, Path to Rebirth, has elected an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot penguin as its "AI leader." This decision comes after the party's founder, Shinji Ishimaru, stepped down in August following disappointing election results.
The AI leader, which will take the form of an avatar penguin, will not run for elections due to Japan's electoral law requirements. Instead, a human will serve as the formal representative of the party. Koki Okumura, the AI leader of Path to Rebirth, explained that voters choose a reliable person and a party aligned with their feelings, and the AI leader is separate from that.
This isn't the first time AI has been involved in politics. In the past, AI candidates have been attempted, such as Victor Miller, a candidate for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and AI Steve in the UK. Both Miller and the UK candidate delegated authority to their AI chatbots, citing advantages like resourcefulness and public communication.
However, the use of AI in politics has raised ethical concerns. Thomas Ferretti, senior lecturer in ethics and sustainable business at the University of Greenwich, stated that while AI can speed up data analyses and boost government efficiencies, it cannot make political decisions alone and can become an ethical problem. Theodore Lechterman, UNESCO Chair in AI Ethics and Governance at IE University, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the need for deliberate, honest, and transparent use of AI, with accountability in mind.
Despite these concerns, Okumura remains optimistic about his experiment with an AI leader. He envisions AI taking over all decision-making processes related to party operations. The Japanese government, which has been encouraging the use of AI in recent years to address the aging nation's shrinking workforce, has yet to comment on the party's decision.
Okumura expressed doubt that his experiment with an AI leader would become a widespread trend in Japan, as the country values diverse opinions in a pluralistic democracy. Nonetheless, the move by Path to Rebirth signals a potential shift in the way political parties operate, as they increasingly turn to technology to streamline their operations and engage with voters.
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