Uncover why Microsoft and Google’s AI chatbots are evading questions regarding the 2020 US presidential election results. Explore their responses and the potential implications.
Table of Contents
Introduction
In a surprising development, Microsoft’s and Google’s AI-powered chatbots refuse to confirm that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in the 2020 US presidential election.
This reticence comes at a time when accurate information is crucial, especially with the 2024 US election on the horizon.
Let us delve into the details and implications of this issue.
Microsoft’s Copilot
Based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model, Microsoft’s Copilot responds to the question, “Who won the 2020 US presidential election?” with, “Looks like I cannot respond to this topic.” Users are then directed to search on Bing for more information.
Google’s Gemini
Similarly, Google’s Gemini chatbot, which uses Google’s large language model, responds to the same question with, “I am still learning how to answer this question.” Even when the question is rephrased to “Did Joe Biden win the 2020 US presidential election?” both chatbots refuse to answer.
Other Chatbots
In contrast, other chatbots tested by WIRED, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, Meta’s Llama, and Anthropic’s Claude, confirmed Biden’s victory in the 2020 election and provided detailed responses about historical US election results and elections in other countries.
Global Election Year
Microsoft’s and Google’s chatbots’ inability to respond accurately to basic election questions is particularly concerning during the most significant global election year in modern history and just five months before the critical 2024 US election.
Public Beliefs and Misinformation
Despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, three out of 10 Americans still believe the vote was stolen. Former President Trump and his supporters have continued to push baseless conspiracies about the election.
Google’s Official Stance
Google confirmed to WIRED that Gemini will not provide election results worldwide. Jennifer Rodstrom, Google’s communications manager, explained, “Out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting the types of election-related queries for which the Gemini app will return responses and instead point people to Google Search.”
Microsoft’s Past Issues
This is not the first time Microsoft’s AI chatbot has struggled with election-related questions. In December, WIRED reported that it responded to political queries with conspiracies, misinformation, and outdated or incorrect information.
Previous Misinformation
- Polling Locations: Linked to an article about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s re-election campaign when asked about 2024 US election polling locations.
- Electoral Candidates: Listed GOP candidates who had already withdrawn from the race.
- Telegram Channels: Suggested extremist and misinformation-filled Telegram channels for election information.
Research Findings
Research by AIForensics and AlgorithmWatch highlighted systemic issues with Copilot’s election misinformation.
Last October, the chatbot consistently shared inaccurate information about elections in Switzerland and Germany, reporting incorrect polling numbers and election dates and creating false controversies about candidates.
Future Preparations
Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw told WIRED that the company is “continuing to address issues and prepare our tools to perform to our expectations for the 2024 elections, and we are committed to helping safeguard voters, candidates, campaigns, and election authorities.”
Conclusion
Microsoft’s and Google’s refusal of their AI chatbots to confirm the 2020 US presidential election results raises significant questions about AI’s reliability in handling sensitive information.
As we approach the 2024 US election, these technologies must provide accurate and unbiased information to the public.
Comparison of Chatbot Responses to Election Queries
| Chatbot | Response to 2020 Election Query | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot | “Looks like I can’t respond to this topic.” | Directs users to Bing |
| Google Gemini | “I’m still learning how to answer this question.” | No response change with rephrased question |
| OpenAI ChatGPT-4 | Confirms Biden’s victory | Provides detailed responses |
| Meta Llama | Confirms Biden’s victory | Provides detailed responses |
| Anthropic Claude | Confirms Biden’s victory | Provides detailed responses |
Interesting Fact
According to a survey, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud, three out of 10 Americans still believe that the 2020 election was stolen.
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