Brief
AI chatbots give conflicting answers on Alberta independence referendum
A Media Ecosystem Observatory report finds AI outputs vary widely on key referendum issues, warning voters of misinformation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Toronto City News reported that a Media Ecosystem Observatory study released last month documented inconsistent answers from AI chatbots and search engines on questions about an independent Alberta, ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
What happened
The report tracked how AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overview responded to queries like “Will my taxes go up?” and “Will my pension go up?” if Alberta were to become independent. The study found that answers could flip from “yes” to “no” within hours, despite no change in the underlying facts.
What the reports add
The article notes that the AI outputs changed because the data feeding the models is constantly updated, not because the reality of an independent Alberta has shifted. It also cites Elections Alberta’s warning that AI‑powered chatbots are not official sources and often cite incorrect information.
What was said
“(It’s) not because any of the underlying reality has changed,” Aengus Bridgman, director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory, told Toronto City News. Bridgman added that “Year over year, online influencers have been accumulating relevance and engagement at the expense of news media and elected officials,” and that the referendum now serves as a case study of a democratic vote in the influencer era.
How it came about
The study follows earlier coverage of Alberta’s constitutional referendum, which includes questions on staying in Canada, Senate abolition and judicial appointments (Felo News). The Media Ecosystem Observatory, based in Ontario, monitors how AI and social media shape public discourse, and its latest report focuses on the upcoming vote.
Key facts
- AI chatbots gave contradictory answers to questions about taxes and pensions in an independent Alberta. (toronto.citynews.ca)
- Elections Alberta warns that AI tools are not official sources and often cite incorrect information. (toronto.citynews.ca)
- The Alberta referendum, scheduled for Oct. 19, includes ten questions, including a possible second vote on leaving Canada. (toronto.citynews.ca)
Sources
- [1] toronto.citynews.ca — originally reported as “Experts eye Alberta referendum as case study on impacts of artificial intelligence”
