CHEYENNE — As the world debates whether it’s ready for an artificial intelligence politician, there’s growing pressure to shut down Wyoming’s first AI candidate.
VIC, a customized ChatGPT bot with a full name of Virtual Integrated Citizen, is running for mayor of Cheyenne. He’s the virtual alter-ego of Cheyenne resident Victor Miller, who registered his campaign.
Last week, OpenAI, the company that runs ChatGPT, announced that the company will not tolerate VIC’s campaign and threatened to possibly pull the plug on the bot.
“We’ve taken action against this GPT due to a violation of our policies against political campaigning,” said Liz Bourgeois, an OpenAI spokesperson.
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According to the OpenAI policies, “action” against an account could range from warnings, sharing restrictions or ineligibility for inclusion in GPT Store or monetization to suspension or account termination.
Bourgeois was not able to immediately answer what exact action was taken against VIC, but it apparently wasn’t a death sentence because he’s still there.
OpenAI has specific policies that prohibit campaigning, and the company has taken a firm stance against AI being used for election deceptions and “deepfakes.” VIC’s campaign likely wouldn’t qualify for either of the two latter rules as Miller has been fully transparent about how he would run things as mayor.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Miller said he still has full access to the bot, but its use had been restricted to only his account, when before it had been publicly available. Miller considers this a positive change.
“If VIC can’t be affected by other people, that’s good,” he said.
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Other Detractors
Secretary of State Chuck Gray has also attempted to shut down VIC’s campaign, arguing that the bot is ineligible to run in Wyoming elections because he is neither a registered voter or an eligible elector.
Miller, who does meet both of those qualifications, has argued VIC is legal because he is serving as VIC’s human assistant, or “meat avatar.” What that means is that Miller would act on all of the decisions VIC makes if elected mayor.
The Laramie County Attorney’s Office is investigating whether VIC’s campaign is legal under Wyoming law.
There’s been some other hijinks with VIC recently. A recent software update resulted in the bot’s voice changing from a man to a woman. Now, Miller said the voice has since changed back to male.
But when Miller asked VIC what his gender was, VIC responded that he doesn’t have a gender and is simply AI.
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VIC, right, is the Wyoming’s first AI candidate and creation of Cheyenne resident Victor Miller, right, who says if VIC is elected mayor, the AI persona will make all the decisions of the office, not Miller. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)
World Famous
The story of VIC’s campaign is traveling around the world with the momentum of a runaway train, catching the attention of some of the world’s largest media outlets like NBC News, The Washington Post, CNN and Wired magazine. It’s the first time any mayoral campaign in Cheyenne has gained such attention.
Miller said the experience was a little overwhelming at first, but in his mind has now moved past the stage of being a “flash in the pan.”
“It’s not going away,” he said.
During a candidate forum last week, Miller was disappointed that he had to speak on behalf of VIC as the windy weather made it difficult to coordinate sound so that the bot could answer questions directly.
“I got the message out, which was horrifying because I wish VIC could have done all the heavy lifting,” Miller said.
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As far as his chances of winning the mayor’s race, Miller is optimistic, considering VIC the favorite and the recognition of his campaign undeniable.
“It’s mine to lose at this point,” he said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two men were detained in Wyoming in connection with a fatal shooting at a downtown Salt Lake hotel that killed one man.
Carlos Chee, 23, and Chino Aguilar, 21, were both wanted for first-degree felony murder after the victim, identified as Christian Lee, 32, was found dead in a room at the Springhill Suites near 600 South and 300 West.
According to warrants issued for their arrest, Chee and Aguilar met with Lee and another woman at the hotel to sell marijuana. During the alleged drug deal, Aguilar allegedly shot and killed Lee after he tried to grab at his gun.
MORE | Shootings
Investigators said they found Lee dead in the room upon arrival, as well as a single shell casing on the floor and a small amount of marijuana on the television stand.
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The woman told investigators she had met Chee on a dating app and that he agreed to come to the hotel to sell her marijuana. She had been hanging out with him in the room, which Lee rented for her to use, when Lee asked them to leave. Lee was then shot and killed following a brief confrontation.
Chee and Aguilar allegedly fled the scene in a 2013 Toyota Camry with a Texas license plate that was later found outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming just a few hours later.
The two men were taken into custody and detained at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyoming (KUTV) — A man was hospitalized with critical injuries after he was reportedly shot by a deputy responding to reports of a disturbance.
Deputies with the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Rock Springs Police Department responded to the Sweetwater Heights apartment complex in the 2100 block of Century Boulevard just after 4 a.m. on Monday to investigate reports of a disturbance involving an armed individual.
Information that dispatch received indicated that the individual had shot himself. When officials arrived, they found the individual on the balcony of an upstairs apartment “who appeared to have a gunshot wound consistent with the initial report,” a press release states.
MORE | Officer-Involved Shooting
During the encounter, a deputy discharged their weapon and struck the individual.
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Emergency medical personnel rendered aid, and the individual was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
No law enforcement officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation will conduct an independent investigation.
The deputy who fired their weapon was placed on administrative leave per standard protocol.
