Experts eye Alberta referendum as case study on impacts of artificial intelligence

Edmonton - Aengus Bridgman, director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory, notes that popular artificial intelligence chatbots and search engines sometimes claim taxes would increase in an independent Alberta. The Ontario-based organization tracked AI responses to various questions about an independent Alberta's fiscal impact in a recent report.

The study tracks how AI technologies are shaping public opinion ahead of the upcoming referendum. The vote on October 19th includes ten questions, such as whether Albertans want to remain in Canada or have a second binding referendum on separation. The report suggests AI has significantly influenced online debates on separation.

Social media and AI have expanded the discourse on separation, making it more complex. However, tracking the referendum and elections becomes challenging due to the "garbage in, garbage out" phenomenon, where inaccurate information is propagated. Elections Alberta warns that AI-powered chatbots and search engines are not official sources of election information and often cite incorrect sources.

OpenAI and Google have not commented on the report. The study also found an increase in content about Alberta separation produced abroad, primarily for financial gain. Pro-separation influencers dominate the online discourse, despite polls showing a majority of Albertans favor remaining in Canada. Bridgman attributes the prevalence of pro-separation social media accounts to their lack of representation in traditional media.

Many influencers are also using AI to create content. University of Alberta political science professor Blair Attard-Frost warns that the increased use of AI in the separation debate necessitates a new wave of media literacy to combat deceptive and misleading information. Premier Danielle Smith, when asked about AI-generated misinformation, stated her government has relied on traditional media to disseminate information and recently launched an ad campaign and mailed out booklets outlining the referendum's details.