Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply criticized a campaign chatbot this month, denouncing a political rival’s artificial intelligence tool as “sexist.” Now, women backing the candidate behind the chatbot are pushing back, calling Pelosi’s accusations “absurd.”
California state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced the chatbot earlier in the month as a satirical jab at fellow Democrat and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, who has been endorsed by Pelosi in the contest to replace her in Congress.
Wiener and Chan are expected to compete in November for Pelosi’s congressional seat.
The chatbot described itself as “the world’s first AI trained to say no to anything you ask,” a clear dig at Chan’s critics, who have portrayed her as a progressive NIMBY for opposing a range of housing projects.
Chan and Pelosi both blasted the campaign stunt, focusing in particular on racist and sexist responses produced by the chatbot. Pelosi, a towering figure in California Democratic politics, also enlisted other women in public office to condemn Wiener, arguing that using AI to mimic a woman’s voice is a “gross misuse of technology and reflects a disturbing willingness to erase women’s agency.”
Facing mounting criticism, Wiener removed the chatbot.
But several influential women in San Francisco politics are now challenging Pelosi’s response, telling the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday that they believe the outrage has been overblown. A “Women for Scott” rally is scheduled for Saturday.
“It feels like there’s a lot of fake outrage about this chatbot,” said Nancy Tung, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
“I suppose you know that’s part of the political game – to put as favorable a slant as you want to for your own purposes for each campaign,” she added.
Famed women advocate Susie Tompkins Buell labeled Pelosi’s cries of sexism as “totally absurd.”
“He is the most non-sexist, non-racist person. I don’t know who would even say that,” Buell said on Wiener. “But if it was (Pelosi), it was careless and not appropriate and not true.”
Pelosi has been very involved in the race to succeed her outside of her chatbot condemnation. Her endorsement of Chan, for instance, uplifted the supervisor past another competitor during the primary to make it into the general election against Wiener, the frontrunner.
Wiener and Pelosi have reportedly had a tense relationship ever since the state senator made it clear he’s been long eyeing her seat, even before she announced she would retire. Pelosi’s endorsement of Chan was seen as a sign of that rebuke.
Buell said she questioned why Pelosi would go out of her way to make the accusations of sexism.
“Nobody can give a good answer of why she’s doing this,” Buell said. “It’s just a mystery to so many people. Whatever it is, it is rooted in pettiness.”
Pelosi, at a Politico event on Aug. 11, dodged questions about her intervention in the race and her thoughts on Wiener. She said at that event she endorsed Chan because the former speaker wanted to see more women in Congress.
The Chan campaign in a statement to the Chronicle criticized the “Women for Scott” rally.
“It’s sad that Scott Wiener’s best answer to broad grassroots criticism of his campaign’s AI chatbot from women and people across San Francisco is to convene a rally to attack Speaker Pelosi,” a spokesperson said.
Wiener, for his part, had said the sexism claims were a “classic deflection” but took the chatbot down because it became a distraction.
Even after Pelosi endorsed his opponent, Wiener in public has still praised Pelosi.
“I have tremendous respect for Speaker Emerita Pelosi and deep gratitude for everything she has done for our city and our country,” he said after the endorsement.
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