One in ten younger Scots 'used AI chatbot' to help decide how to vote
A poll found the use of AI is ‘already significant’ among younger Scots
Around one in ten younger Scots used an AI chatbot to help them decide who to vote for ahead of the Holyrood election, according to a poll.
A Survation survey commissioned by researchers at the University of Strathclyde found the use of AI chatbots is “already significant” among younger Scots.
Around one in ten respondents used chatbots to research parties’ policies, learn about candidates or party leaders, or fact check political claims, the poll found.
And 7 per cent - rising to 13 per cent of 16-24 year-olds and 10 per cent of 25-34 year-olds – reported using an AI chatbot to help them decide who to vote for.
“This finding suggests that at least among certain groups, information generated by AI chatbots may have a significant effect on vote choice,” the researchers said in an election analysis report.
“The current appeal of these tools seems to be primarily practical. Among those who used AI for political information, 44 per cent say they did so because it is faster and 36 per cent because it is easier to use than other sources.
“Perhaps the most revealing finding is that nearly a quarter of Scots consider AI more reliable and less biased than alternative information sources.”
However, confidence in the accuracy of AI was low. “Only 13 per cent of respondents consider it completely or very accurate and 40 per cent agree that it is biased,” the academics said.
“Intriguingly, scepticism is sharpest among the heaviest users. Belief in AI bias is highest among 16-24 year olds (48 per cent) and 25-34 year olds (47 per cent), the same groups most likely to use these tools.
“This is not necessarily a contradiction. Younger citizens are heavier users of AI and familiarity with these systems may bring a clearer understanding of the limitations.”
Survation polled 1,047 Scots of voting age between April 24 and May 1. The survey formed part of research carried out by Professor Zoe Greene, Dr Timea Balogh, Elise Frelin and Dr Louise Luxton at the University of Strathclyde.
It was published in a wider election analysis report prepared by by the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, which features contributions from leading scholars in Scottish politics, elections, media and policy.
The Holyrood election on May 7 saw the SNP emerge once again as by far the largest party in Holyrood, on 58 seats. Labour and Reform UK both secured 17 seats, the Greens 15, the Conservatives 12 and the Liberal Democrats 10.
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