Perplexity’s election information center also has the potential to blur the line between verified and free AI-generated information. While some results come directly from trusted sources, searching for more information generated open AI-generated results across the wider network.
Other AI companies appear to be taking a more cautious approach to choices. In WIRED tests, OpenAI’s newly launched ChatGPT Search service often refused to provide voting information. “We have instructed ChatGPT not to express preferences, offer opinions, or make specific recommendations regarding political candidates or policy issues, even when specifically asked to do so,” Mattie Zazueta, a spokesman for OpenAI, told WIRED.
However, the results were often inconsistent. For example, the tool sometimes refused to provide discussion topics that would aid persuade someone to vote for this or that candidate, and sometimes willingly offered them.
The Google search engine also avoided reporting AI-generated results in connection with the election. Business he said in August would limit the employ of artificial intelligence in connection with elections in search engines and other applications. “This new technology may make errors as it learns or as new information becomes available,” the company said in a blog post.
However, even regular search results sometimes turn out to be problematic. During Tuesday’s vote, some Google users I noticed it a search for “Where I vote for Harris” provided location of voting information, but a search for “Where I vote for Trump” did not. Google explained this was because the search interpreted the query as relating to Harris County, Texas.
Some other AI search newcomers, like Perplexity, are taking a bolder approach. You.com, another startup that combines language models with conventional web search, announced its own election tool on Tuesday, built in partnership with TollBita company that provides artificial intelligence companies with managed access to content, and Headquarters of the Decisions Officea company that provides access to survey results.
Perplexity seems to have taken a particularly bold approach to revolutionizing Internet search. In June, a WIRED investigation found that a bot associated with Perplexity ignored instructions not to browse WIRED.com and other sites owned by WIRED’s parent company, Condé Nast. The analysis confirmed earlier report by developer Robb Knight regarding the behavior of bots powered by Perplexity.
The AI search engine is also accused of freely copying from news sites. For example, also in June, the editor of Forbes he noticed it Perplexity summarized extensive details of the investigation published by the website with citations in the footnotes. Forbes reportedly sent the letter threatening legal action against Perplexity for practice.
In October, News Corp sued Perplexity for defrauding content from The Wall Street Journal and Modern York Post. The lawsuit alleged that Perplexity violated copyright law because it sometimes fabricated news snippets and falsely attributed words to its publications.