Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Abigail Bassett
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Abigail Bassett
Cloud Computing
commercialism
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
gismo
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
privateness
Robotics
Security
societal
Space
startup
TikTok
conveyance
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
adjoin Us
“ When is a bot a individual ? , ” my colleague Kirsten asked after I learned that Polestar ’s clime bot ismore human than machine .
Polestar launch its “ Truth Bot ” on X ( formerly Twitter ) ahead ofCOP28 , the UN clime conference overseen byan rock oil executive . The Truth Bot replies to misleading tweet about the climate crisis and electrification , citing research from theIPCC , IEAandCarbon Brief . Unsurprisingly , the explanation promotes the top of galvanizing vehicles . What ’d you expect from an EV maker ?
Polestar said it made the bot “ in light of a deteriorating environment when it comes to climate mis- and disinformation on social mass medium weapons platform . ” It ’s not incorrect ; under Elon Musk , mood denialism isthrivingonXin particular . The company is alsohampering research on disinformation .
So , it makes sense that someone would seek to fight ardor with fire — or in this case bot vs. bot . Yet , Polestar ’s bot is mostly human as far as we can separate . It mechanically identifies tweet around different “ topic bucket , ” Polestar interpreter Mike Ofiara told TechCrunch over electronic mail . “ humankind then shape their means through and choose which nip to reply to , and choose the appropriate response . ”
This scheme is probably for the good . We ’ve heard for age about the damage automated spot can do . A2021 studypublished in Climate Policy , for example , suggested bots were responsible for about a one-fourth of climate denial tweet . Of course , even if Polestar ’s bot was whole automated , I do n’t think it would rabbit on fatuously about the “ Green Climate Cult . ” Still , good connotation do n’t ensure accuracy .
Data release by Carbon Brief in 2020 find that over its whole lifetime , the entire greenhouse gas pedal emissions utter from manufacturing , charging and driving a typical EV were lower than those associated with an average European car consort on petrol or diesel. … https://t.co / sEHZAAkiK3
researcher have catch AI tools likeChatGPTserving up climate falsification . Such peter can also bemisused on purpose to apace sire misleading info . It seems unlikely that a homo - vetted account with good intentions can vie , volume wise , with fully automated bots on top of factual human who tweet falsehoods , but there does n’t seem to be harm in prove .
It ’s also of import to consider that Polestar is focusing on the reward of galvanic cars over gas guzzler . In liken the two , the benefits of EVs are clear as far as air timbre and carbon expelling go . Yet , so far , Polestar ’s account has n’t refer buses or trains . These and other forms of public transit areoften ignored , butcriticalcomponents of exile decarbonization .
