A letter to the editor from Dick Rylander of Battleground highlights the importance of verifying information, especially when it comes to local elections. Rylander discovered that ChatGPT, an AI search tool, provided incorrect information on several Clark County primary races.
Incorrect Information
For instance, in the County Auditor race, ChatGPT did not list Eileen Quiring O’Brien as a candidate. When Rylander challenged this, the AI apologized and corrected the information. Similarly, in the County Assessors race, ChatGPT incorrectly stated that Peter Van Nortwyk was not running for re-election. After being challenged, the AI again apologized and provided the correct information.
Rylander also found that ChatGPT struggled to provide accurate information on the Clark County District 5 County Council race. When asked to compare candidates Peter Silliman and Troy McCoy, ChatGPT incorrectly identified McCoy as a Republican, despite the Democrats having endorsed him.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
