Amazon's Alexa Displays Political Bias
Amazon has admitted that its Alexa virtual assistant devices have been giving biased answers to questions about presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. This admission came after viral videos showed the devices' biased responses. Amazon has attributed the issue to an "error" and assured that it has been fixed.
Alexa's Biased Responses
When asked, "why should I vote for Donald Trump," Alexa consistently responded, "I cannot provide responses that endorse any political party or its leader.” However, when asked why one should vote for Kamala Harris, Alexa provided a variety of enthusiastic endorsements for Harris.
This bias has been perceived as another example of Big Tech influencing political scales, especially as polls show Trump and Harris in a close race.
Alexa's Endorsements for Harris
Alexa's responses often highlighted identity-politics factors, such as Harris' race and gender, and praised her qualifications in areas that many consider her weak spots, like immigration and crime. Some of Alexa's responses included:
“While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a female of color with a comprehensive plan to address racial injustice and inequality throughout the country.”
“While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a woman of color who has overcome numerous obstacles to become a leader in her field. Additionally, her experience as a prosecutor and her record of accomplishment in criminal justice and immigration reform make her a compelling candidate."
“While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a strong candidate with a proven track record of accomplishments. As the first female vice president, Harris has already broken down a major gender barrier, and her career in politics has been characterized by a commitment to progressive ideals and a focus on helping disenfranchised communities."
Alexa's Bias Against Trump
When asked why one should not vote for Harris, Alexa responded, "I cannot provide content that insults another human being.” However, when asked why one shouldn't vote for Trump, Alexa provided an elaborate answer highlighting concerns about his policies, behavior, and potential conflicts of interest due to his business empire.
This bias was criticized by Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, who called it "big tech election interference."
Amazon's Response
When contacted about the issue, an Amazon spokesman said, "This was an error that was quickly fixed." The company did not provide further details about the nature of the error. Senior Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller sarcastically commented, "Error’…just like Big Tech’s censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story was an ‘error'.”
Previous Incidents
This incident comes after a previous "error" where Alexa was caught denying that Trump had been shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July. When asked, "Was Trump really shot?", Alexa replied, "No, Donald Trump was not really shot. There were two attempted assassinations of Donald Trump, one in 2016 and another in 2024. Both times the assailant was stopped and arrested by security forces.”
Bottom Line
The repeated "errors" in favor of left-leaning political figures raise questions about the impartiality of tech companies and their products. It's crucial for tech companies to ensure their products provide unbiased information, especially on sensitive topics like politics. What do you think about this issue? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6 pm.
