In late 2022, conservative commentator Glenn Beck introduced an intriguing project: resurrecting a founding father using artificial intelligence. In a video from what seemed to be a podcast studio, George Washington ‘appeared’ across the table from Beck. However, this was not the historical Washington often depicted in portraits. Instead, this version had a modern twist, resembling a character who could have been part of a contemporary podcast. This was George A.I.
The principle behind George A.I., and similar A.I. systems, promises access to truth beyond what any individual might imagine. These A.I. platforms depend on their inputs. Beck’s A.I. project utilized a large language model, informed by Beck’s significant collection of founding documents. This collection, which Beck claims ranks among the largest globally, includes texts the founders might have engaged with, from the Bible to legal commentaries.
While Beck refers to George A.I. as a ‘librarian’ of these documents, its main output so far consists of routine podcasts focused on America’s founding. When Beck seeks George A.I.’s opinions on modern society, the A.I. often addresses its concerns with moral issues. According to George A.I., present-day Americans tend to overspend, dismantle unfamiliar institutions, and doubt ‘truth.’
In early March, following U.S. actions in Iran, Beck released another segment with George A.I., exploring Washington’s potential views on the conflict. Beck questioned Washington’s past cautions against foreign alliances, pondering if showing force might help prevent disputes. George A.I.’s response mirrored Beck’s perspective, while Beck highlighted historical context by mentioning Thomas Jefferson’s conflict with Barbary pirates over two centuries ago.
As political discourse often focuses on public persuasion, referencing the founders has become a predictable tactic among some right-wing figures. For instance, Candace Owens discusses the founders as moral leaders for Black Americans, who she suggests re-embraced ‘slavery’ via absent fatherhood and welfare. Similarly, Ben Shapiro advocates for originalist views against legal support for same-sex marriage.