What Happened to the A.I. Election? + ChatGPT for Mayor + The Productivity Tools We’re Using

Consideration and preparation are key when attending social events or meeting important people. The speaker shared an experience of feeling embarrassed for showing up empty-handed to a dinner party, and how they learned from Casey, who always brings a thoughtful gift, to do the same. This incident also occurred during a meeting with her boyfriend's parents, highlighting the importance of being well-prepared in such situations. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the role of AI in the 2024 election and how its impact has been less significant than anticipated. Despite the potential for AI to generate misinformation and influence voters, many tech companies pitching AI-related products to campaigns have struggled to gain traction.

While AI technology is making significant strides in political campaigns, its implementation faces challenges due to public perception and cultural differences. A company called Civox, which pitches AI technology to political campaigns, reportedly makes thousands of calls but faces resistance due to the negative connotation of robocalls. Campaigns, especially in the US, are hesitant to use AI due to concerns about turning off voters. However, AI is being successfully used in other parts of the world, such as India, where it is seen as innovative and cool. Internally, campaigns are finding uses for AI, particularly in writing fundraising emails and generating speeches. Despite this, campaigns are reluctant to disclose their use of AI due to the negative public perception. The cost of using AI is also a fraction of traditional campaign expenses, making it an attractive option for cash-strapped campaigns. However, the lack of transparency around pricing is a barrier for some campaigns. Overall, while AI has the potential to revolutionize political campaigns, its implementation must navigate cultural differences, public perception, and transparency concerns.

While both the Democratic and Republican parties are exploring the use of AI in their campaigns, there's a reluctance to fully embrace it due to concerns about authenticity and potential negative public perception. The Biden campaign used AI for audience modeling, email drafting, and content generation but had strict rules against using AI-generated content in ads without human review. Some campaigns are hesitant to discuss their use of AI publicly, and there's a belief that the technology needs to feel more authentic before politicians can comfortably use it. AI's potential benefits include data analysis and targeted messaging, but concerns about misinformation and foreign influence campaigns continue to loom large. Despite this, users are becoming more adept at identifying and rejecting suspicious content, which may be more effective at combating disinformation than the efforts of tech companies.

The use of AI in political campaigns is becoming more prevalent, but the challenges and ethical considerations surrounding its implementation are significant. At a background briefing at OpenAI, it was discussed how difficult it has become for fake accounts to gain traction online due to increased competition for algorithmic distribution. However, the use of AI in political campaigns, such as robocalls or chatbots, raises concerns about authenticity and vulnerability to attacks. For instance, New York Mayor Eric Adams' use of non-native language robocalls could make him more vulnerable to voice cloning attacks. Authenticity and realness are becoming increasingly valuable in a world where the internet's authenticity is questioned. The younger generation, who have grown up with technology, may be better equipped to navigate this landscape and find a balance between real and artificial. The first known instance of a US candidate pledging to outsource all decision-making to an AI chatbot, Victor Miller in Wyoming, attracted national attention but ultimately failed to win the mayoral race. Despite the campaign's lack of success, it highlighted important questions about the role of AI in politics and governance.

The use of AI in government functions is becoming a topic of increasing importance and debate. A recent novelty campaign in Cheyenne, Wyoming, featuring an AI chatbot named Vic as a mayoral candidate, sheds light on this issue. While some may dismiss the campaign as insignificant, it raises questions about the role AI should play in government, particularly in areas like school funding and criminal sentencing. The use of AI in governance is already beginning, with chatbots being used to write legislation. However, there are concerns about human nature and the desire to let robots take over decision-making. Victor Miller, the creator of Vic, ran for office to make a statement about the potential of AI in government and to address issues with government bureaucracy. He believed that in the future, politicians would be relegated to ceremonial roles, and AI would be responsible for making important decisions. However, he acknowledged the risks and challenges of relying on AI, such as its potential for mistakes and lack of human empathy. Vic was created and trained by feeding it local ordinances and other documents, allowing it to understand and vote on city issues based on data. While the idea of an AI mayor may seem far-fetched, it highlights the potential for AI to revolutionize government functions and the need for careful consideration of its implications.

Victor, a mayoral candidate, discussed his use of an AI bot named Vic to help him make decisions based on city documents during the election process. He found Vic to be reliable in providing definitive yes or no votes based on the information provided, unlike some other AI models that can be wishy-washy. However, concerns were raised about potential biases in AI models and the possibility of outsourcing decision-making power to AI companies. Victor acknowledged these concerns but argued for the importance of open-source AI and the potential for AI to become more human-like in the future. He also acknowledged that values and worldviews play a significant role in politics and that AI lacks these human qualities. Despite not winning the primary, Victor plans to build an umbrella organization to support future candidates. He remains optimistic about the potential of AI in politics but acknowledges the need for careful consideration of its limitations and ethical implications.

Productivity apps, specifically Capacities and Raycast, can significantly enhance the way we process and retain information, leading to increased productivity and expertise in various fields. During the conversation, Casey shared his experience using Capacities, a personal knowledge management tool, and the Zettelkasten method. This approach involves breaking down ideas into small units, called zettles, and connecting them to form a comprehensive understanding of a topic. By using this system, Casey aims to increase his knowledge and expertise in journalism and technology. Additionally, Casey introduced Raycast, a launcher app that allows users to perform various tasks quickly using hotkeys. Raycast can be used to rearrange windows, search files, and even query AI chatbots for quick answers. By integrating AI into daily workflows, Raycast saves time and streamlines the process of finding information. While both apps require an initial investment of time and effort, the long-term benefits include increased productivity, improved knowledge retention, and the ability to reckon with complex ideas in a more meaningful way. In essence, these productivity apps serve as tools for unlocking new ways of thinking and working, ultimately leading to better outcomes and continued growth in our personal and professional lives.

Productivity apps like Spotlight, Raycast, and Readwise can significantly enhance the way users navigate, read, and organize digital information, ultimately reducing context switching and increasing productivity. The speakers shared their personal experiences using these apps, highlighting their unique features and benefits. Spotlight is a powerful search tool that helps users quickly find files and information on their computers. Raycast is a productivity app that reduces context switching by allowing users to search and access various applications and files without leaving their current tab. Readwise is an all-purpose reader app that uses AI to provide a summary or key insights from long documents, making it an effective reading assistant and librarian. The speakers emphasized the importance of these apps in their workflows and how they have improved their productivity and peace of mind. They also discussed how these apps can be useful for various professionals, particularly those in knowledge work or research fields. Moreover, the speakers shared their personal experiences with using different note-taking apps, with Apple Notes being a recent discovery and preferred choice for one of them. Overall, the discussion underscores the value of productivity apps in helping users manage digital information more effectively and efficiently.

Apple Notes has evolved from a simple note-taking app to a powerful productivity tool for many users. The ease of use and accessibility across devices, along with features like linking notes, creating smart folders, and scanning text, make it a versatile option for managing tasks, ideas, and research. The new voice memo feature in iOS 18 adds to its convenience for users who prefer dictation. The app's simplicity and lack of excessive settings make it a productive tool for users, as long as they spend more time using it than configuring it. If you're a student, teacher, or administrator dealing with phone policies in schools, share your experiences by sending a voice memo to hardfork@nytimes.com for potential inclusion in an upcoming episode.