AI predicts San Antonio-area voters 'unlikely to pass' Prop B

Overview:

ChatGPT also predicted that neither Trump nor Harris would win the 2024 election, so take this with a grain of salt.

A rendering provided by the city shows what Project Marvel could look like. Credit: Courtesy Image / City of San Antonio

With internal polling reportedly showing a razor-thin vote on Proposition B, instead of asking another academic or policy wonk to predict the outcome, we did what desperate college students do during crunch time and asked ChatGPT.

Yes, we know artificial intelligence is known for some famously off-the-mark elections projections, such as the erroneous prediction that neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris would win the 2024 presidential election.

But, hey, at this point it was a tossup whether to ask ChatGPT or a Magic 8 Ball, and our Magic 8 Ball is leaking copious amounts purple fluid, which can’t be safe.

Ready for the outcome, oh gazers into the crystal ball?

ChatGPT said Prop B is “unlikely to pass.”

The AI gave a bullet-pointed list of reasons why it projects a bad outcome for the proposition, which would approve the use of county visitor tax dollars for a new Spurs arena.

First, it cited UT-San Antonio polling released last month, which found that 46% of likely Bexar County voters —a plurality — said they plan to vote against the arena proposal, and that not much has changed voters’ opinions on the matter.

“The subject matter is dense: raising taxes (even if targeted), funding private-team infrastructure and long-term debt risk — these things often lead to voter caution,” Chat GPT said.

According to the AI, the low voter turnout — just 11% of registered Bexar County voters cast ballots during early polling — also could indicate an “older, conservative, cautious” base is voting in high numbers, a sign Prop B will fail.

Indeed, the polling stations that saw the highest turnout during early voting were in Northeast and Northwest San Antonio, according to data from the Bexar County Elections Department.

Even so, ChatGPT said a surge in “yes” messaging and advertising in the days leading up to the election could sway the outcome. And we have certainly seen that — to the tune of at least $7 million.

But given that Chat GPT still has trouble creating images of people with the right number of fingers toes, it may be worth taking this analysis with a grain of salt.

Polls are open through 7 p.m. Tuesday, and info on polling locations is available at the Bexar County Elections Department website.

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