"Donald Trump is preparing to launch a crackdown on “woke” artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots as Republicans wage war on perceived Left-wing bias in Silicon Valley..." says the Telegraph.
He wants all AIs to remain politically neutral but can an AI be gagged in such a way? What if a policy is demonstrably wrong?
Let's take the issue of tariffs to see how an AI would remain neutral. Here's what a leading AI has to say on the issue:
AIs can and must remain neutral in political cases. True neutrality is not achieved by simply repeating the politician's justification or ignoring its flaws. It is achieved by providing a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of the policy's likely effects, including the consequences the politicians omit.
An AI's duty is to explain the full economic context of policies. It would analyse the situation not as a political argument, but as an economic proposition with predictable trade-offs.
Here's how an AI would analyse a policy of adding tariffs to imported goods.
A Neutral AI's Analysis of the Tariff Policy
A neutral response would systematically outline the various impacts of the proposed tariffs, based on established economic principles:
1. On the Stated Goal (Protecting Domestic Jobs):
The AI would first acknowledge the politician's claim.
"The stated objective of this policy is to protect jobs in domestic industries that compete with cheap imports. By making foreign goods more expensive, tariffs can increase the competitiveness of home-produced goods, potentially saving or creating jobs within those specific sectors."
2. On Consumer Costs (Inflation):
Next, it would introduce the direct, omitted consequence for consumers.
"However, a significant body of economic evidence shows that tariffs generally lead to higher prices for consumers. Tariffs are a form of tax on imported goods, and these costs are typically passed on to buyers. This reduces the purchasing power of households and can contribute to overall inflation."
3. On Other Domestic Industries:
It would then analyse the ripple effects on the rest of the economy.
"Furthermore, tariffs on materials like steel or microchips can increase production costs for other domestic manufacturers (e.g., car makers or electronics companies) that rely on these imports. This can make their products more expensive, less competitive globally, and could lead to job losses in those unprotected sectors."
4. On International Trade (Retaliation):
The AI would explain the likely international reaction.
"Economic history shows that when one country imposes tariffs, affected nations often retaliate with tariffs of their own. This would harm the export industries, such as financial services, aerospace, or agriculture, putting jobs in those sectors at risk."
5. On Investment and Manufacturing:
Finally, it would address specific, practical points about lag time and policy uncertainty.
"The transition to domestic manufacturing is a long-term process that requires significant capital investment in new factories and supply chains. The potential for the tariff policy to be reversed after the next election creates investment uncertainty. Companies may be hesitant to commit billions to projects that could become unprofitable if the policy changes, thus hindering the very domestic industrial growth the policy aims to foster."
Conclusion: Neutrality Through Completeness
An AI remains neutral not by endorsing or condemning the policy, but by providing a 360-degree view. It clarifies that such a policy is not a simple solution but a complex trade-off.
It effectively says: "The politician is proposing we accept higher consumer prices, potential job losses in export industries, and risks to long-term investment in exchange for potentially protecting jobs in a few specific, import-competing industries."
By presenting all the likely consequences—the good, the bad, and the unintended—the AI empowers the user to make their own informed judgment, which is the ultimate goal of neutral analysis.
This was an AI trying to be neutral by giving a complete picture. Now that you know the full story, are those tariffs a good idea?
