In a text message sent to the Post, Zhuang wrote that he uses “AI as a tool to help foster deeper understanding” because English is not his first language.
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The answers – prepared with the help of AI – were included in an article by City & State, which asked elected members of the local council to completehessem one questionabout their personal and political interests. However, The New York Post noticed something strange about Zhuang's response to the question “What makes someone a New Yorker?"
“New York, the concrete jungle where dreams come true. It's not just a place, it's a state of mind. Being a New Yorker means having unstoppable determination, unbreakable resilience, and unparalleled independence. It's about navigating busy streets with confidence and embracing the vibrant diversity that makes this city so special. Join a community of like-minded people proud to call themselves New Yorkers. Connect with people from all walks of life, sharing diverse cultures and backgrounds that contribute to the city's dynamic mosaic. Experience the energy and excitement of becoming part of something bigger than yourself.” – said Zhuang's response.
The New York Post submitted the text to Copyleaks, a tool that checks plagiarism and answers generated by artificial intelligence, and discovered that it could have been generated by AI. City & State later added an editor's note below Zhuang's responses stating that she "admitted that this response was written using artificial intelligence."
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It is not yet clear whether Zhuang used AI to answer all of City & State's questions or just the answer cited above. “As an immigrant and Brooklyn’s first Chinese-American counselor, I, like many of my immigrant colleagues, use AI as a tool to help foster deeper understanding and personal growth, especially when English is not my primary language.” , Zhuang told the Post.
AI in politics
Politicians often get help from public relations teams to craft responses to reporters, but Zhuang's use of AI raises questions about how politicians should use this technology — or whether they should use it at all.
Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee responded to news of President Joe Biden's re-election campaign with an ad that included AI-generated imagery. Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis also used AI to create an attack ad targeting Donald Trump, while a Brazilian politician even admitted to using the ChatGPT to draft a municipal decree.
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As AI tools like ChatGPT become more common, we are likely to see an increase in their use among politicians and other officials. AI is already generating concern ahead of the 2024 presidential election, leading a group of senators to resist its use in political campaigns.
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