UC Santa Barbara graduates develop “free political assistant” AI

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – In a time of endless scrolling and sensational headlines, two software engineers with a passion for politics are on a mission to help people find answers to decisions that affect their daily lives.

“There is a lot of important information about what schools are funded, what projects are approved or not approved, what environmental and conservation efforts are being done in your area, and that has a much greater impact on your neighbors and you and your family.” Discussion on national news,” said Jon Berthet, CEO and co-founder of Understory.

It’s as simple as asking a question.

“You can ask a question. For example, ‘What have been the discussions around rent control and Santa Barbara and Ventura in the last two years?'” Berthet said.

Understory uses artificial intelligence to generate an answer by combing through city council minutes.

What sets Understory apart from other AI programs is that it is based on primary sources and includes references to sources.

“You can have a conversation with Understory and say, Hey, you know, what has someone done for me in the last four years? What have they achieved? Give me an overview of their track record or voting history and make an informed decision,” said Mo Karimi, co-founder of Understory.

Mo Karimi says the AI ​​is completely impartial.

We put this to the test by asking Understory, “Who should I vote for?”

The answer was: “As the AI ​​of the city government, I cannot recommend who you should vote for or get involved in politics.”

It could even help bridge the current political divide.

“Understory will help connect people in the long term. This will make it easier to have conversations at the local level as the information will be more readily available,” said Berthet.

There are free and paid versions of Understory.

Currently, Understory has data for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Maria and Buellton.