Is it time to automate politicians?
Robotic representation has some merits, says Alvin Carpio of The Fourth Group
By ALVIN CARPIO
A poll of British consumers conducted by software firm OpenText found that one in four Brits think robots would do a better job than humans as politicians. Years ago, The Muppet Show ran a segment mocking politicians for their stereotypical robotic behaviour. Last April a robot was nominated to run to be Tokyo’s mayor, promising fair and balanced representation.
In a world where reality is sometimes more bizarre than an episode of Black Mirror, what if we replaced our current politicians with algorithms? In a period where trust in politicians is low and government efficiency is questionable, might we be better off?
More from Open Future
“Making real the ideals of our country”
Cory Booker, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, on racial justice, fixing racial income inequality—and optimism
How society can overcome covid-19
Countries can test, quarantine and prepare for the post-coronavirus world, says Larry Brilliant, an epidemiologist
Telemedicine is essential amid the covid-19 crisis and after it
Online health care helps patients and medical workers—and will be a legacy of combating the novel coronavirus, says Eric Topol of Scripps Research