Swedish PM Faces Criticism Using ChatGPT for Policy Decisions

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has sparked controversy by admitting that he frequently uses AI tools like ChatGPT and the French service LeChat to seek second opinions on policy matters, including complex issues such as geopolitical tensions and economic data. While Kristersson and his colleagues consider AI a supplementary aid, critics warn that relying on AI in political decision-making risks overconfidence in unverified systems and blurs the line between human judgment and algorithmic input. Experts like Virginia Dignum and Simone Fischer-Hübner caution against using AI for sensitive information and emphasize that AI merely reflects the biases of its creators rather than offering meaningful political insights. The Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet accused Kristersson of succumbing to “the oligarchs’ AI psychosis,” and opposition parties have raised concerns about the implications for democratic accountability. Kristersson’s team insists no sensitive data is shared with AI platforms and defends the usage as a modern efficiency tool. The debate highlights broader unease about the role of AI in governance and the need to maintain human responsibility in political leadership.