AI chatbots get voting facts from a small Brooklyn nonprofit

When you ask an AI chatbot where and how to vote, some of the answer may trace back to a small nonprofit in Brooklyn. The group is called Democracy Works. NBC News reports that it has become a primary information source for some of the world's largest tech companies, even as it says it is struggling with funding.

What is happening

Millions of Americans are turning to AI-powered chatbots to figure out where and how to vote in the midterms, according to NBC News. Democracy Works partners with Google, Anthropic and OpenAI, the companies behind major AI chatbots. Its role in providing accurate election information has grown.

Why it matters

Many people now ask a chatbot a question instead of searching a website. For voting, that means a small group's information may shape what people see when they look for basic details. Getting those details right matters on a short clock like Election Day.

The group's money problem adds a worry. A key source of voting facts for large companies is, by its own account, short on funding.

What is not known yet

The material available does not say how much funding the group needs, how much the tech companies pay, or exactly which chatbot answers draw on its work. It also does not say what would change if the group's funding problems continue.

What to do

• Treat a chatbot answer about voting as a starting point.
• Check the answer with your local election office before you head out.
• Confirm details such as where and how to vote, not just general information.