Amazon’s Alexa has come under fire for promoting Vice President Kamala Harris with a hidden, biased message when asked about the upcoming 2024 presidential election. As new polls indicate a tight race between Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump, concerns have long been raised about political bias in tech companies. Now there’s proof.
Social media users have posted videos showcasing the difference in responses when asking Alexa why one should vote for Donald Trump versus Kamala Harris. When asked, “Alexa, why should I vote for Donald Trump?” the popular voice-activated assistant responded with, “I cannot provide content that promotes a specific political party or a specific candidate.”
However, when the same question was posed regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, Alexa provided a markedly different answer. “While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a strong candidate with a proven track record of accomplishment,” Alexa said.
“As the first female vice president, Harris has already broken down a major gender barrier, and her career in politics has been characterized by a commitment to progressive ideals and her career in politics has been characterized by a commitment to progressive ideals and a focus on helping disenfranchised communities,” the voice continued.
WATCH:
<!–
backup code
backup creatives
–>
The bias did not go unnoticed, with many questioning whether Amazon is using its widely popular product to subtly push a political agenda. Many believe that this is yet another example of how tech giants like Amazon are leveraging their platforms to sway public opinion, especially as the 2024 presidential election looms large on the horizon.
The controversy surrounding Amazon’s Alexa took another troubling turn when users discovered that the virtual assistant was also providing misleading information about former President Trump. When asked, “Alexa, was Donald Trump really shot?” the device responded, “No, Donald Trump was not really shot. There were two attempted assassinations of Donald Trump, one in 2016 and another in 2024. Both times, the assailant was stopped and arrested by security forces. Both times, the assailant was stopped and arrested by security forces. These events are widely reported in the news.”
WATCH:
While it’s true that Trump survived an assassination attempt in July during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the suggestion that there were multiple attempts or that they were widely reported is misleading. Trump was injured when he was shot in the upper right ear. The assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, used an AR-15-style rifle to fire eight rounds from the roof of a nearby building. The attack also resulted in the death of one audience member and left two others critically wounded.
Recent polls show a narrowing gap between Harris and Trump, with both candidates neck and neck in several key battleground states. With the election just around the corner, any bias could have significant ramifications on voter sentiment and turnout.
