World s first virtual politician is here

Wellington Nov 26 (IANS) In an attempt to create a representative that listens to people and responds to their questions with facts and policy positions a first-ever Facebook Messenger chatbot named "SAM" has been introduced in New Zealand.

" SAM doesn t currently hold any office -- nor could it likely legally run for one under current laws -- and her conversations are still very limited. But she s an experiment to create a representative that listens to people and responds to their questions with facts " Engadget reported on Saturday.

"Currently you can ask her about a number of New Zealand s issues from a pre-selected list of topics though SAM s capability will theoretically grow the more public opinion she ingests " the report added.

Nick Gerritsen who created the AI chatbot unveiled last week hopes the bot may be able to run in New Zealand s 2020 general election when she s more advanced according to CNN.

Meanwhile the website politiciansam.nz describes the chatbot as the the world s first "Virtual Politician" driven by the desire to close the gap between what voters want and what politicians promise and what they actually achieve.

--IANS
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