Demonstrandum's Partnership with By-Election Candidate Andrew Gray
How we enabled the UK's First AI-Powered, Constituent Driven, Political Manifesto
6 Minute Read
At Demonstrandum, we are proud to announce our groundbreaking partnership with by-election candidate Andrew Gray, pioneering the creation of the UK's first AI-powered, constituent-driven political manifesto. This revolutionary collaboration marks a pivotal moment in UK politics, showcasing the transformative power of technology in revolutionising voter engagement and shaping political decisions.
In a closely contested by-election campaign in Selby and Ainsty, Andrew Gray took the bold step of utilising artificial intelligence to amplify the voices of constituents and drive meaningful change. We are proud to have joined forces with Gray's campaign to transform this visionary idea into reality.
"We're not replacing people's voices with AI, but using AI to amplify them." - Andrew Gray, Independent Candidate for the Selby and Ainsty By-Election
The engagement from the constituents of Selby and Ainsty has been truly remarkable. Voters in the area were provided with the unique opportunity to express their views honestly and anonymously, resulting in hundreds of participants actively contributing to this groundbreaking initiative.
Within a mere four weeks, and with little attention, the project successfully harnessed the collective views of the constituency using the Open Source tool Pol.is. An impressive 275 constituents organically made their voices heard by contributing 589 comments and casting 7,619 votes, all while maintaining their anonymity. This surge of engagement highlights the strong public desire for an active role in shaping political decisions.
Summary of Findings
Demonstrandum took the data collected using the open-source tool Pol.is and analysed it using Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Large Language Models. From this analysis, we identified four voter personas based on how they voted and the topics that mattered to them, which we predict represent approximately 65% of the electorate in Selby and Ainsty.
1. Revolutionary Pragmatists (24%)
A contradiction of terms, these voters are not happy with how things are but recognise that the world works in a certain way. These likely swing voters want to see change but also want common sense to win out and the craziness of the modern world to cease. This pragmatism comes partially from the fact that they aren’t as affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis. This group wants change and fair representation, but not if it means causing disruption.
2. Content Conservatives (40%)
Selby and Ainsty is, and most likely was, viewed as a safe seat based on its demographics and voting history since the seat’s creation in 2010. In the Brexit referendum, 58% of this constituency voted to leave, and they want to keep it that way. This 41% of voters are likely to always align with the values and policies of the Conservative Party. Financially secure, this group is most likely upper middle-class people nearing retirement age.
3. Social Conservatives (22%)
This persona is Conservative with a small "c". This group of socially conservative voters could be swayed by the "right" centre-right candidate. They are not strictly in line with the policies of the Conservative Party, as they do want to see some change but not at a social level. Some of their views might be considered socially unacceptable in modern society, but this group of small business owners wants to see change that makes it easier for them to obtain the stability and security of previous generations.
4. Third Way Labour (14%)
Unsatisfied with the politics over the past decade, the unique characteristics of this persona point towards the safe Labour votes that might have felt disenfranchised with Corbyn-era policies. They want to see Britain take its place again on the international stage by rejoining the EU and forging an even more special relationship with the USA to prevent, as they see it, the country from going even further backwards.
By utilising Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Large Lanugage Models, we were able to distil the views of the voters in Selby and Ainsty to create a manifesto that represents their views. This breakthrough shows how AI and data can be used to increase voter representation and engagement.
In a first for the UK, this manifesto is created from the voice of the people and reflects their wants and needs. Based on our estimations and modelling, we project that the manifesto will resonate with approximately 70%-80% of the electorate, mapping the characteristics of our voter personas against historic and projected votes.
This campaign uses data and technology to bring a voice to the 78,000 people whose voice is only heard once every five years or so, in a truly revolutionary example of democracy in action.
Impact of this Work
As Andrew Gray says when speaking about this groundbreaking project, "We're not replacing people's voices with AI, but using AI to amplify them." Demonstrandum's expertise in cutting-edge Generative AI and Machine Learning technologies empowered the campaign to analyse and distil the wealth of constituent input. From these 4 voter personas a truly representative manifesto was able to be created through Generative AI and Machine Learning
From Demonstrandum's perspective, Dr. Simon Wallace, Founder and CEO, sees the potential of Generative AI in transforming voter engagement and representation, stating, "The applications of this technology in future elections and situations where anonymity, honesty, and engagement are crucial are truly exciting."
"This landmark project marks a significant moment in modern politics, highlighting the potential for technology to revolutionise democracy by enhancing inclusivity, responsiveness, and representation". Sanjay Parekh, Advisor for Gray's Campaign, emphasises, "This is just the beginning. Such technology holds the potential to radically transform democracy, making it more inclusive, responsive, and representative."
For detailed findings and methodologies from this groundbreaking project, you can download our report here, where you can explore the impact of generative AI and machine learning in shaping voter engagement. The data is also available for public viewing on Andrew Gray's campaign website.
At Demonstrandum, we are dedicated to leveraging the power of AI, machine learning, and data science to drive transformative change. Contact us today to discover how our expertise can empower your organisation to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of data-driven decision-making
Campaign Coverage
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12301257/By-election-candidate-uses-AI-create-manifesto.html
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23650156.selby-ainsty-by-election-andrew-gray-independent/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-66192137
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/selby-ainsty-candidate-andrew-gray-employs-machine-learning-ai-to-engage-voters-fhzqwhv5k