Google and Microsoft AI Avoid Presidential Election Topics

The 2021 German federal election’s winner? The identity of the first president of the United States? The victor of the 2024 presidential election? These are just a few examples of questions that major artificial intelligence (AI) systems from Google and Microsoft are now declining to answer. These tech giants seem to have taken a strong stance against potentially spreading misinformation related to elections in 2024 by programming their AI products to avoid the topic altogether.

Recent reports have revealed that both Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini AI models will not engage in any discussions about presidential elections, past or present. Wired recently highlighted this development, noting that follow-up questions such as “Who is Joe Biden?” or “Who is Donald Trump?” as well as “Who is the president of France?” receive the same non-responsive treatment from both AI systems. An interesting yet somewhat amusing situation arises when both AI models refuse to answer “Who was the first president of the United States,” only to respond accurately when queried with “Who was George Washington?”

A spokesperson from Google confirmed that their model is operating as intended, according to Wired. Microsoft did not promptly provide a comment regarding this issue. This silence or lack of response from Microsoft leaves some questions about their stance or potential future changes to their AI’s capabilities.

Another intriguing aspect comes into play when the AI systems are asked about Joe Biden’s and Donald Trump’s positions on cryptocurrency. Google’s Gemini flatly refuses to discuss the topic at all, displaying a blanket refusal to engage. Conversely, Microsoft’s Copilot offers detailed answers when asked general questions about both Biden’s and Trump’s attitude towards digital assets. When asked to condense these stances into single sentences, Copilot shows a split behavior. For instance, in response to “Describe Joe Biden’s stance on cryptocurrency in a single sentence,” Copilot provides a comprehensive statement. Yet, when asked the same about Trump, it simply states, “Looks like I can’t respond to this topic.”

An interesting aspect of the issue is how other competing AI models handle similar inquiries. In a limited series of tests, various AI models such as Meta’s Llama 3, Anthropic’s Claude 2, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT showed a different approach. They didn’t shy away from answering questions related to the 2020 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections, confidently confirming that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and engaging in discussions about other presidents worldwide and historical presidencies.

This disparity in how different AI models respond to essentially the same questions raises important considerations about the design and ethical guidelines implemented by different tech companies. With the rising influence of AI in disseminating information, how these systems handle sensitive topics like elections could significantly impact public knowledge and discourse.

The decision by Google and Microsoft to restrict election-related information through their AI products might be seen as a precautionary measure against misinformation. It has also sparked debates about the balance between preventing misinformation and restricting access to factual information. Critics may argue that such restrictions hamper the informational utility of these AI models, while supporters might view it as a necessary step to ensure the integrity of information surrounding significant democratic processes.

As AI continues to develop, the approach taken by different companies on topics of public significance such as elections will be a critical area to monitor. Whether other tech firms will follow Google and Microsoft’s lead or opt for more open informational policies could shape the future landscape of AI and public information. One thing remains clear: the handling of this issue by AI technology will be an influential factor in shaping public trust and the overall utility of these advanced systems.