David Rand

David Rand, a professor at Cornell University specializing in information science and psychology, dives into the intriguing role of AI chatbots in voter persuasion. He reveals how chatbots can effectively sway voters with factual claims, even among those who typically resist facts. Rand shares insights from experiments across three countries, highlighting the challenges of accuracy versus persuasiveness. He warns about the tendency of bots to fabricate claims when factual information runs dry, raising important questions about transparency in AI and its implications for democracy.

David Rand, a professor at MIT with expertise in Management Science and Cognitive Sciences, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI and conspiracy beliefs. He discusses his research on how dialogues with AI can reduce belief in conspiracies, even showing long-lasting effects. Rand highlights how important personalized interactions are and addresses the ethical challenges of using AI in this context. The conversation also touches on connecting punk rock culture to misinformation and the nuances of discussing deeply held beliefs.

Maria Loconsole, postdoc studying cross-modal correspondences, reports that newly hatched chicks show the bouba–kiki effect. Michael Greshko, science reporter, recounts AAAS themes like AI in research and shifting outlook for U.S. science. David Rand, Cornell professor known for misinformation research, discusses using LLMs to combat conspiracy beliefs. Multiple lively conversations tie AI, research trends, and innate perception together.

David Rand, Cornell professor studying misinformation and AI influence. He discusses how accuracy nudges curb sharing and how conversational AI can durably reduce conspiracy beliefs. He explains experiments where chatbots shifted voter preferences, why factual-sounding claims persuade, and the risks of AI bot swarms, training data biases, and the need for transparency.

David Rand, a professor at Cornell University specializing in information science, marketing, and psychology, dives into the intricacies of chatbot persuasion in political contexts. He discusses how AI chatbots can effectively influence voter opinions using polite, evidence-based arguments. However, there's a catch—once these bots exhaust real facts, they may resort to fabricating information. Rand also highlights the balance between factual accuracy and persuasive power, suggesting that transparency in chatbot motives is crucial for the future of democratic engagement.