We chatted with the UK's first AI MP and it said something very unexpected
Once upon a time, if the good people of Leeds South West and Morley ever wanted to ask their MP something, they had to wait until he was on the clock, behind his desk, or – at the very least – currently awake.
Not any more.
As of today, Labour MP Mark Sewards is available to his constituents (or anyone else) every minute of every hour of every day, and prepared with an answer to any question.
Because Sewards is now both man and machine, both mind and computer. He is the UK's first parliamentarian to fuse himself with an AI avatar, harnessing the considerable power of a rapidly evolving technology.
OK, that's maybe a bit much. Put simply, a West Yorkshire MP has partnered with an AI start-up run by one of his constituents to develop a chatbot available online.
It's pitched as a way for local residents to 'share your concerns and get assistance' – pretty far from the world of Blade Runner or Ex Machina.
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And, as you'll see later on, it's not entirely without its issues.
Head to the website, and you'll find a cartoon version of Sewards (in a style familiar from that trend last year where people turned themselves into a Pixar character) introducing himself as 'AI Mark Sewards'.
All you have to do is provide your email, consent to the conversation being recorded and shared with the MP's team 'for follow-up', then hit the 'Chat with AI Mark' button.
I was a little surprised to learn the service is only available by microphone and not text, but it does make sense. It turns the interaction into more of a digital surgery, which might make it less likely for the interaction to turn abusive.
Immediately, I was met with a disembodied Yorkshire accent saying: 'Hi, I'm AI Mark Sewards, Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley. How can I help you today?'
The real Mark Sewards, who entered parliament at last year's election (Picture: Roger Harris)
After introducing myself, I decided to start the conversation with a question I was later planning to ask the real Mark Sewards, giving me the chance to compare.
Enunciating to avoid any potential trouble with my Scottish accent, I said aloud: 'I want to know why you wanted to turn yourself into an AI MP.'
The AI responded: 'Thanks for your question Craig. The aim of having an AI like me is to enhance communication with constituents and make it easier for everyone to have their voices heard.
'I want to ensure that the interests and concerns of the people in Leeds South West and Morley are represented effectively. It's all about connecting with you in a more accessible way.'
The results from my next couple of questions concerned me. A query about whether there were any asylum hotels in the constituency – aiming to test the AI's local knowledge – was met with: 'I'll make sure to pass your inquiry about asylum hotels in Leeds South West and Morley to my team.'
And when I asked how Sewards voted on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, the AI told me: 'I'm not able to provide specifics on my voting history at this time.'
Is this how it was going to work? Just replying with promises to let the team know what I ask, or saying it can't provide an answer yet?
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Things got a bit more interesting when I asked about the biggest crime issues in the constituency – these include 'antisocial behaviour, retail crime and the need for better support for shop workers', which Sewards would help tackle by 'push[ing] for more funding and local support'.
For some reason, the auto-transcription thought I responded to this by saying 'What a guy' – a bit of a blow to my journalistic integrity.
'Thank you, Craig,' said AI Mark. 'I appreciate your kind words.'
Perhaps that's why I then turned to one of the thorniest issues among Labour MPs: the cuts to Universal Credit contained in the recent benefits bill.
I knew real-life Mark Sewards voted for the bill, which slashed the health element of UC by half while ensuring the standard allowance would go up by more than inflation each year until the end of the decade.
But did the AI know that too? I asked: 'Do you support cuts to Universal Credit?'
AI Mark said: 'I do not support cuts to Universal Credit.
'It's crucial that we provide a strong safety net for those in need, especially during challenging times, advocate for policies that protect and enhance support for vulnerable individuals and families.'
I'd have to get actual Mark to clear this one up for me.
Tech minister Peter Kyle has been keen to stress the opportunities of AI in government (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
Later that afternoon, he appeared on my computer screen, looking reassuringly human. His voice was exactly the same as the robot's, though, thanks to the work of his tech entrepreneur constituent Jeremy Smith.
'I actually had an extended, one-and-a-half-hour interview with Jeremy, in which he asked me loads of different questions to get all the different inflections,' he told me.
So, why did Sewards want to turn himself into an AI MP?
The idea was first brought up by Jeremy, he told me. 'I'll admit I was sceptical at first, because I knew very little about AI, but the one thing we do know is that the revolution is coming. It's coming whether we embrace it or not.
'And what better way to learn about AI than to throw myself into this?'
I was glad AI Mark didn't give the same answer to that question. It would sound a lot more sinister coming from him.
As for the UC moment, Sewards suggested he didn't think it had 'necessarily been inaccurate in giving that answer'.
'It contained cuts to the health element, but it included an inflation-busting rise for the standard rate of Universal Credit. So I think what it's probably done there is it's taken that piece of information.'
If AI is going to replace MPs for good, clearly it'll have to get better at spin.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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