Victor Miller, a candidate for mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, has proposed to govern the city using a generative AI bot he created called VIC (Virtual Integrated Citizen). This idea has sparked a lively debate among experts and scientists.
Victor Miller's Proposal
Victor Miller recently announced his candidacy for mayor of Cheyenne, pledging to manage the city of 65,000 people exclusively with a generative AI bot he developed, called VIC (Virtual Integrated Citizen). Miller argues that AI can quickly scan heaps of municipal documents, summarize events, and render unbiased judgments in near real-time, which he believes would benefit democracy.
AI Community Reaction
However, some scientists and AI practitioners are alarmed by the idea of outsourcing local government to an AI-enhanced bot. Terrence Sejnowski, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, argued that AI should be considered as a tool to enhance government services, not replace them entirely. He emphasized that many non-routine cases, traditionally settled by courts and lawyers, remain beyond the realm of a bot's training data.
Looking to the Future
Eyal Darmon from Accenture believes that AI could significantly change many aspects of governance in the future. Chris Rothfuss, the Wyoming State Senate Minority Leader, contends that AI is not yet developed enough to handle significant decision-making. However, Julian Cardarelli from GovCore sees the potential for AI to effectively handle low-risk government functions, such as processing social assistance claims or tax calculations.
The debate on AI in governance continues, with many experts emphasizing the need for careful regulation and oversight. The potential of AI is vast, but its application should be cautious and measured.
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