In a surprising turn of events during an online campaign event, NDP leadership candidate Rob Ashton, who is also a union leader, found himself under scrutiny for using artificial intelligence to generate responses. His “ask me anything” (AMA) session on Reddit, which was intended to engage supporters, became the subject of controversy after users noted that some of his replies bore the hallmarks of AI-generated text.
The backlash began shortly after Ashton’s AMA when Reddit users began commenting on the peculiar nature of some responses. Observers pointed to the excessive use of em dashes and bullet points, suggesting they were not written by a human. Following these revelations, Ashton’s campaign acknowledged the issue. A post on the r/ndp subreddit included an apology from Ashton’s team, explaining that some responses had indeed been drafted with the assistance of AI tools without his prior review and approval.
Ashton’s campaign team stated that he was traveling and had asked his helpers and volunteers to craft answers for him to consider. However, it appears that some of these drafted responses were posted without his oversight, drawing criticism from his supporters. In the apology, Ashton emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability, stating, “A key part of leadership is accountability, and I want to reassure everyone that this won’t happen again.”
Ashton, who has cultivated an image as a straightforward representative of the working class, is currently a frontrunner in the NDP leadership contest. His background as a dockworker and president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada positions him as a candidate advocating for workers’ rights in a race that features four other official contenders.
The incident has led to mixed reactions from Reddit users, with some supporters voicing disappointment. One user expressed deep concern, declaring, “Rob, I’m a big supporter of yours… this isn’t acceptable, like not at all.”
During the AMA session, Ashton stated his opposition to the use of AI in various contexts, arguing that it threatens jobs, exploits creators, and undermines democracy. He highlighted the need for robust regulations on AI, advocating for a royal commission and updated laws to protect individuals and entities from its misuse. Notably, he linked the issues of unregulated AI and rising fascism to broader class struggles, asserting, “Both fascism and unregulated AI are class issues. They serve corporate power by dividing workers and stripping people of control.”
In response to the controversy, Ashton committed to removing the AI-generated responses from his AMA and pledged to write his own responses in the coming days. The NDP leadership race, which has thus far been marked by a lack of significant political missteps, may see this issue as a pivotal moment, alongside debates over candidates’ positions on purity tests and political rhetoric. As tensions grow, small missteps like Ashton’s could have significant implications for supporters and the trajectory of the leadership race.
