Canadian politician repeatedly reads out AI prompts in speech

A screenshot of MLA Bill Oliver speaking in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. Photo by Brunswick News fileArticle contentA New Brunswick politician has chalked up a dubious world’s first for Canada by reading out AI prompts in an official speech.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentIn a June 9 speech to the legislative assembly, Progressive Conservative Bill Oliver read out the following line from a prepared text: “Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”

Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentArticle contentWhile it’s certainly not the first time a politician has been caught using an AI engine to write their speeches, this does appear to be the first time that the politician in question didn’t bother to remove the telltale signs of the act before reading the speech into the public record.Article contentRight?

The National Post newsletter that doesn’t hold back, giving readers the unvarnished truth on media, politics and culture.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up, you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Right? will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up.

Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentSee the gaffe (and others like it) in the video above, or read the transcript.

Article contentThis is Canadian politician Bill Oliver.Article content“Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”Article contentThis is from a June 9 speech delivered in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.

And it seems to be Oliver reading out the prompts from an AI engine.Article contentWhat’s more, he did it several times throughout the speech. Three times, to be precise.

Here are the other two.Article content“This version should … here’s a more developed and flowing version of the section.”

Article content“This section ends roughly …”Article contentAnd, since we can now assume at least some of the speech was written by a AI engine, it does indeed carry many of the hallmarks of AI-generated copy.Article contentOne classic trait of AI-written content is that it’s repetitive, and often relies on formulaic bullet points.

And there’s a lot of formulaic bullet points in this speech.Article contentArticle content“Participation is not the same thing as decision-making. Representation is not the same thing as authority.

Advocacy is not the same thing as the power to alter rates.”Article contentRead More Canadians are quick to call AI use cheating, slow to disclose their own use: poll Rogue attack on website raises fears that AI has become too powerful to control Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article content“Will any of this make life more affordable?

Because affordability remains the defining issue of our time. It affects seniors. Families.

Small businesses. It affects farmers. It affects young people trying to purchase their first homes.”

Article contentAI engines are also notorious for writing copy that is technically correct – at least in an orthographic sense – but doesn’t actually have any real substance.Article contentThat’s true of a lot political speeches, I guess, but there’s a whole five minute section in which Oliver just outlines how governments work.Article content“The reality is that every decision made by government carries a cost.

Every office requires resources. Every organizational structure requires support. Every new administrative body regardless of how well-intentioned requires funding, not only to establish itself but to sustain itself year after year into the future.”

Article contentOliver, a Progressive Conservative, sits in the opposition benches. And the whole point of this speech was to criticize a bill that would create a new government position known as the energy sector consumer advocate.Advertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet.

Trending Freeland calls Trump 'bully in chief' in scathing rebuke: 'Canada must fight back' News Old Age Security payments getting a boost — maximum from $743 to $752, and $817 to $827 this week Canada Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. WestJet flight attendants could walk off the job as early as Sunday. Here's what to know News Zelenskyy and Netanyahu meet with Trump as wars on Russia and Iran converge World Economists s