Latest news with #Sewards
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First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
‘UK's first virtual MP': Meet Mark Sewards, the British politician who created AI version of himself
A British politician has launched an AI version of himself to engage with the people he represents. Mark Sewards, Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley, teamed up with AI firm Neural Voice to create his digital avatar. The chatbot, dubbed as the 'UK's first virtual MP', speaks in Sewards' voice to provide advice, offer support or forward messages to his team read more Sewards said he had become the first British MP to launch an artificial intelligence prototype of himself. Image: News18 Chatbots have become increasingly popular. Today, you can find them on almost every service, offering instant replies and handling queries. A British politician has now taken this a step further by creating an AI version of himself to communicate with the people he represents. Mark Sewards, the Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley, worked with the AI company Neural Voice to develop a virtual version of himself. On Tuesday, Sewards said he had become the first British MP to launch an artificial intelligence prototype of himself. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, who is Mark Sewards? How does this AI version function? And are people welcoming the idea? Here's all you need to know: Who is the UK's 'first virtual MP'? The Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley has teamed up with AI company Neural Voice to create a virtual version of himself. This chatbot, described as the 'UK's first virtual MP', uses Sewards' voice to give advice, offer support or pass messages on to his team. Introducing the first AI prototype of a British MP🇬🇧🤖 When constituent and local business owner, Jeremy Smith, approached me with this idea, I was very excited to work with him. The AI revolution is happening and we must embrace it or be left behind. — Mark Sewards MP (@MarkJSewards) August 5, 2025 The 35-year-old has been an MP for just over a year, having defeated former Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns to win the Westminster seat in July 2024. What are chatbots? For the unversed, chatbots are computer programs designed to hold a two-way conversation with a human. They have become increasingly popular as businesses search for new ways to connect with people. Although they can offer many advantages, there are also concerns over privacy, data security, reduced human contact and whether they can actually solve problems. How does the AI version work? In a message encouraging local residents to 'give AI Mark a try', the MP, who was elected for the first time last year, said, 'The AI revolution is happening and we must embrace it or be left behind.' The startup he worked with, Neural Voice, had previously fielded a candidate called AI Steve in the last UK general election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The idea was to restore trust in politics by letting constituents suggest and vote on what AI Steve should do as a local MP, with the company's chair, Steve Endacott, taking those decisions to parliament. Sewards said he partnered with the firm to launch the 'first AI prototype of a British MP'. He told constituents, 'When constituent and local business owner, Jeremy Smith, approached me with this idea, I was very excited to work with him.' He added that the AI was 'only a prototype' and would be trained further 'to make it better'. The AI version of Sewards records every conversation so that his team can identify the main topics constituents are discussing. This feature has also faced criticism. This prototype AI model offers my constituents an additional way to engage with their MP on local casework and policy issues. It can't ever replace any of the oher work I do and it simply gives people another option to contact me, anytime of day. — Mark Sewards MP (@MarkJSewards) August 5, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why is the chatbot facing criticism? Although still in its early stages, the AI chatbot has already drawn criticism, with some arguing it could widen the gap between politicians and the public. Some social media users accused him of being 'lazy' and questioned why he was paid a £93,000 salary if a computer was doing his job. Dr Susan Oman, a senior lecturer in data, AI and society, told BBC, 'When it comes to the general public and how they speak about politicians, the trust in them gets worse and worse.' She said there was a risk that, while an MP may try to be more efficient and available through such tools, people might feel they are being listened to less. Concerns have also been raised about privacy, data security, reduced human contact and whether the chatbot can effectively deal with problems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dr Oman added that the growing use of AI in the public sector has led to difficulties, especially for older generations. Separately, Victoria Honeyman, a lecturer in British politics at the University of Leeds, warned that the chatbot could cause distress for people seeking help with complex issues.
Euronews
6 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
A UK politician turned himself into an AI chatbot. Here's how it works
Imagine being able to corral your local politician and grill them about their views, anytime you fancy – no appointments, no red tape. That's exactly what one British Member of Parliament has set out to achieve. Mark Sewards, a Labour Party politician who represents Leeds South West and Morley, has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) clone of himself that is designed to answer questions and assist with constituents' queries around the clock. 'I'm very keen to explore how new technologies, such as AI, can help strengthen the connection between an MP's office and the constituents we serve,' Sewards said in a statement. He encouraged his constituents to 'give AI Mark a try' – but noted in an Instagram post that the tool isn't designed to replace his official duties. Rather, the idea is to provide a 24/7 service where constituents can raise local issues, ask about policy matters, or drop a message to their MP's office without waiting weeks for a formal reply. The bot 'simply gives people another option to contact me, any time of day,' Sewards wrote. How a tech firm cloned Sewards The Leeds-based startup Neural Voice developed Seward's AI twin, dubbing him the 'UK's first virtual MP'. The company says it uses cutting-edge neural voice synthesis and advanced natural language processing to help create voice AI assistants for phone systems and websites. It used voice recordings of Sewards in parliamentary sessions, social media profiles, and previous correspondences with constituents to create a digital double that mirrors his speaking style, tone, and mannerisms with uncanny accuracy, the company said. It hopes the new technology will make local politicians more accessible to their constituents. "For too long, politicians have been out of reach for their constituents,' said Jeremy Smith, Neural Voice's CEO and co-founder. 'The vast majority of people do not know the name of their MP, let alone their voice and what they stand for,' Smith added. He believes this technology could soon become par for the course, with other MPs and even businesses potentially following suit in a bid to bridge the communication gap. Digital doubles in politics and business AI is increasingly being deployed in public-facing roles to overcome physical barriers and create constant feedback loops. Last year, the mayor of a Japanese city, Yokosuka, created an AI avatar of himself to improve communication with the thousands of English-speaking US Naval personnel based there. Meanwhile, a political outfit in Denmark called the Synthetic Party created an AI candidate called 'Leader Lars' to stand in the country's 2022 elections, though the party did not win votes. The AI model, which the party says was fed with material from fringe political parties in Denmark dating back to 1970, was designed to engage with citizens who typically do not vote and to demonstrate AI's role in democracy. Companies in Poland and China have also experimented with having AI CEOs front their brands. Yet such tools can be repurposed to impersonate public figures without their approval, or to generate convincing fake personas that appear to be real public figures. High-profile deepfake scams have targeted Italian defense minister Guido Crosetto, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and several celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Joe Rogan, whose voices were used to promote a scam that promised people government funds. Deepfakes were created every five minutes in 2024, according to a report from think tank Entrust Cybersecurity Institute. Whether a digital doppelgänger can truly replace an in-person chat with a public figure remains to be seen, but back in the United Kingdom, Sewards believes it will be at least one promising option. 'The AI revolution is happening and we must embrace it or be left behind,' he said on the social media platform X.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Difference of opinion' halts work at rail station
A "difference of opinion" between the public body funding a new railway station and a key landowner has led to an impasse at the site and work being paused, according to an MP. Work on the White Rose Station between Cottingley and Morley, near Leeds, was halted in March 2024 after the cost of the project rose above the original £26m budget. Mark Sewards, MP for Leeds South West and Morley, said the stakeholders needed to find an "amicable solution" but that both sides were keen to "resolve issues" so that construction could resume. £22m of investment has come from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with landowner Munroe K, the operator of the White Rose Park, providing £4m. Sewards said: "I've been frustrated with the lack of progress on the station, and it's really important that WYCA and Munroe K get together and find an amicable solution." He said that there was a difference in opinion between the two sides but having spoken to both parties it was clear "they wanted to resolve issues". Other major infrastructure developments have seen costs inflate by 20% due to the surge in prices for building materials. The scheme began in March 2022 with the station originally due to open in 2024. It was designed to serve White Rose Business Park, the shopping centre and Elliott Hudson Sixth Form College. In a joint statement WYCA and Munroe K said: "Following the temporary pause in construction at White Rose Station, we've been working with partners to resolve issues so that work can restart on the site. "The station is a major priority for West Yorkshire and an update is anticipated in the coming months." West Yorkshire's mayor Tracy Brabin was also asked about the scheme and said that the Combined Authority was "in the process of sorting out the next steps and we'll get to a good position soon". White Rose Station would be served by trains on the Transpennine route between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. The Combined Authority is also developing three other new railway stations in the region at Elland, Thorpe Park and Leeds Bradford Airport. Work at Elland is scheduled to start next year following a 25-year wait. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Uncertainty over future of new railway station New train station moves a step closer West Yorkshire Combined Authority
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
MP says White Rose Station delays due to 'difference in opinion'
A "difference of opinion" between the public body funding a new railway station and a key landowner has led to an impasse at the site and work being paused, according to an on the White Rose Station between Cottingley and Morley, near Leeds, was halted in March 2024 after the cost of the project rose above the original £26m Sewards, MP for Leeds South West and Morley, said the stakeholders needed to find an "amicable solution" but that both sides were keen to "resolve issues" so that construction could resume.£22m of investment has come from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with landowner Munroe K, the operator of the White Rose Park, providing £4m. Sewards said: "I've been frustrated with the lack of progress on the station, and it's really important that WYCA and Munroe K get together and find an amicable solution."He said that there was a difference in opinion between the two sides but having spoken to both parties it was clear "they wanted to resolve issues".Other major infrastructure developments have seen costs inflate by 20% due to the surge in prices for building materials. The scheme began in March 2022 with the station originally due to open in was designed to serve White Rose Business Park, the shopping centre and Elliott Hudson Sixth Form a joint statement WYCA and Munroe K said: "Following the temporary pause in construction at White Rose Station, we've been working with partners to resolve issues so that work can restart on the site."The station is a major priority for West Yorkshire and an update is anticipated in the coming months."West Yorkshire's mayor Tracy Brabin was also asked about the scheme and said that the Combined Authority was "in the process of sorting out the next steps and we'll get to a good position soon".White Rose Station would be served by trains on the Transpennine route between Leeds, Huddersfield and Combined Authority is also developing three other new railway stations in the region at Elland, Thorpe Park and Leeds Bradford at Elland is scheduled to start next year following a 25-year to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
