A recent Axios story on maternal health policy referenced “findings” that a majority of people trusted their doctors and nurses. On the surface, there’s nothing unusual about that. What wasn’t originally mentioned, however, was that these findings were made up.
The practice [‘AI’ start-up] Aaru used is called silicon sampling, and it’s suddenly everywhere. The idea behind silicon sampling is simple and tantalizing. Because large language models can generate responses that emulate human answers, polling companies see an opportunity to use A.I. agents to simulate survey responses at a small fraction of the cost and time required for traditional polling.
If you’re wondering why Axios (linked in the article) is so “soft” on this AI polling:
https://www.axios.com/2025/01/15/open-ai-axios-local-newsrooms-funding-deal
Shame, as I’ve read Axios for years. I still do, but they’re clearly shilling for OpenAI now.
Clicking through the links revealed (as did a subsequent editor’s note and clarification by Axios) that the public opinion poll was a computer simulation run by the artificial intelligence start-up Aaru. No people were involved in the creation of these opinions.
Good news! The latest polling has revealed everyone is happy with Great Leader, and they don’t mind the rising prices, disappearing of their neighbors, or child murder!
Also, sadly, if people will trust random Tweets or Instragram pics (or Lemmy posts), I find it hard to believe this will get them to reject polling.
Information hygiene is in the toilet these days.
