'Gaitana', AI-created candidate, will compete in Colombia's general elections
An AI-generated candidate named Gaitana will participate in Colombia's legislative elections, vying for a seat designated for Indigenous communities.
In a groundbreaking move, a candidate named Gaitana, created using artificial intelligence, is set to run in Colombia's upcoming legislative elections on March 8. Gaitana is positioned as an independent candidate vying for one of the seats allocated to Indigenous communities, and she is portrayed in social media as a blue-skinned woman adorned in feathered attire. Identified as an 'environmentalist' and 'animal activist,' Gaitana's unique persona represents a fusion of technology and traditional cultural values, aimed specifically at engaging voters from the Indigenous sector.
Gaitana communicates with the public through an artificially generated voice, which carries a non-native Spanish accent. She expresses her innovative approach by pledging that if elected as a congresswoman, all her decisions will be subjected to virtual votes with the citizenry. The inclusion of such a candidate raises intriguing questions about the intersection of technology and democracy, particularly regarding how AI might facilitate or hinder genuine political engagement among constituents.
According to a representative from the Colombian election authority, the registration process classifies Gaitana as a legal candidate campaigning through artificial intelligence, and she will appear on the ballot as 'IA' for the Indigenous constituency elections. This marks a significant development in the political landscape of Colombia, signaling a potential shift in how candidates can represent themselves and interact with the electorate, especially in a country where Indigenous voices are increasingly seeking representation in government.