Virginia congressional candidates debate incumbent’s AI – with a few glitches

An online debate held on Thursday against a sitting congressman’s artificial intelligence likeness – marking a gray area in the use of the technology during elections – featured few fireworks, few viewers and a few glitches.
The debate, pitting two independent challengers against incumbent Don Beyer, a Democrat, was streamed on YouTube and Rumble. As Reuters first reported, challenger Bentley Hensel created an AI version of Beyer using his website and other materials to answer questions of policy so that he could debate it whether Beyer appeared or no.
Beyer, who eschewed the hour-long event, was represented by a robot icon above the word “DonBot” which read answers with a robotic voice that did not mimic the congressman’s. Hensel and David Kennedy both appeared on camera, as well as representatives from the debate’s sponsors. Republican Jerry Torres was not present.
Beyer, who captured nearly three-fourths of the vote in 2022, is expected to win re-election handily. Hensel previously told Reuters he designed the software to answer accurately based on source materials and not skew the responses to benefit the challengers.
The candidates fielded questions around gun control, limiting aide to Israel and healthcare access, among others. Asked why voters should reelect Beyer, the AI said: “My answer is simple: I believe that I can make a real difference in the lives of the people of Virginia’s 8th district.”
The software said it would oppose withholding all aide and weapons shipments to Israel in lieu of establishing a Palestinian state, if that were proposed. Beyer himself voted against additional aide to Israel in April saying the nation is wealthy and can borrow funds.
“I support humanitarian assistance and have voted in the past to fund defensive capabilities,” he said.
A spokesperson for Beyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment left after business hours.
Viewership for the debate on YouTube peaked at less than 20 viewers and DonBot was inaudible for portions of some answers, making it more stunt than consequential.
Still, observers say the use of AI is likely to become more commonplace in future elections, particularly if legislators fail to pass meaningful laws on its use.