AI tools assist Members of Parliament with Parliamentary Questions

In the House of Representatives, politicians are increasingly utilizing AI tools such as ChatGPT from OpenAI and Microsoft Copilot to formulate their Parliamentary Questions. Currently, about a quarter of these questions are reported to be drafted with the help of such generative artificial intelligence. This growth is attributed to time pressure and the promise of faster writing processes. While these tools can enhance the structure and readability of the text, human editing remains essential.

The use of AI appears to be on the rise, especially for recurring topics and fixed formats. This has created a need for clear rules regarding the usage of this technology. Current procedures do not require Members of Parliament to mention when they use AI to create their texts, leading to ambiguity about the source and quality of the information. A transparent disclosure of AI use could clarify the provenance of information, which can be crucial for the end user.

The quality of AI-generated texts is sometimes questioned as these models can make mistakes and produce incorrect information. This is also referred to as 'hallucination'. For effective control and assurance of quality, it is essential that these texts are accompanied by clear sources. Privacy remains another important concern, especially when personal data is entered into external AI tools. The use of business variants and compliance with the GDPR are crucial in this regard.

The European AI regulation provides guidelines for the use of generative AI systems and requires, among other things, transparency and the prevention of deception. While drafting Parliamentary Questions does not fall into the highest risk category, it remains important for governments to adhere to these rules. For the Members of Parliament, implementing a simple disclosure step could be a start, indicating, for example, that a question is AI-supported. For a careful and responsible engagement with this technology, collaboration and consensus among the factions are necessary.

Read the full article from AI Insider.