Who Won the Debate? AI Says Kamala Did.

13.09.2024 06:35

At this point, the American people and the media should probably recognize an important truth: The spectacles that presidential candidates partake in during the weeks just before a presidential election are not debates. The only similarity they bear to the intellectual war waged between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858 is that both candidates are standing on a stage.

We should probably call the modern spectacle a “show.” Or maybe a “squabble” would be better.

As with most squabbles, it’s rather unclear who won the debate on ABC News on Tuesday night.

If you ask Daniel J. Flynn, it was a draw and Donald Trump was facing down three opponents, not one. Dov Fischer agrees. Debra Saunders says Kamala won on style and Trump on policy. Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay think Trump won the soundbite competition (arguably the most important outcome of the debate). (LISTEN: The Spectacle Ep. 144: 9/11 and the Morning and Decade After. Trump v. Harris: The Draw)

As wonderful as all of these analyses are (you should certainly go read and listen to them), they are written by people, and people are biased. So, because this is a column on artificial intelligence, I asked AI — which is ostensibly not biased — who won the debate. ChatGPT gave it to me nice and short:

Prompt: Who won the 2024 presidential debate on ABC News and why?

ChatGPT: In the 2024 presidential debate hosted by ABC News, Kamala Harris was widely regarded as the winner. Analysts praised her calm and composed performance, which contrasted sharply with Donald Trump, who appeared defensive and frustrated throughout the debate. Harris effectively baited Trump on several issues, including his criminal charges and past controversial statements, which led him to stray off-topic and engage in rambling defenses. This tactic helped her maintain control of the debate, while Trump’s reactions played poorly to swing voters and suburban audiences.

Harris was successful in positioning herself as a forward-looking candidate, calling on Americans to “turn the page” on Trump. In contrast, Trump focused heavily on past grievances, such as the results of the 2020 election, which he falsely claimed was stolen from him. Despite attempts by Trump to steer the conversation towards topics like immigration, he often veered into conspiracy theories, which further weakened his standing.

Many commentators believe that this debate showcased Harris’s ability to handle high-pressure situations and strengthened her position as a viable alternative to Trump. While the race remains competitive, Harris’s performance likely boosted her momentum going into the final stretch of the campaign.

ChatGPT was nice enough to point me to its sources, including USA Today, and Politico — I supposed AI can only be as unbiased as its sources. This is, of course, subjective, but I think it’s fair to say that Trump hardly appeared “defensive and frustrated” (although, I’ll admit, Harris was successful at baiting Trump a time or two). But that’s ChatGPT, owned and run by left-wing Silicon Valley. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Has a Plan — To Take, Take, Take)

What about Grok?

Prompt: Will the debate impact the election?

Grok: The impact of the Harris-Trump debate on the 2024 election is shaping up to be a mixed bag, according to various analyses and sentiments expressed on platforms like X. Here’s a light-hearted take:

Perception of Victory: Kamala Harris is widely seen to have outperformed Donald Trump, with polls among debate watchers giving her a clear edge. However, as history shows, winning a debate doesn’t automatically translate to winning an election. Remember, debates are part spectacle, part substance, and while Harris might have won the spectacle, the substance’s effect on voter swing is less clear-cut.

Voter Sentiment: X posts and polls suggest a nuanced impact. While Harris’s performance was strong, potentially energizing her base and swaying some undecideds, Trump’s core supporters remain largely unshaken, viewing his performance through the lens of his established persona. The debate might not have been the game-changer some hoped for or feared, given Trump’s previous debate performances didn’t hinder his victories.

Market and Betting Odds: There’s some indication of immediate reactions in betting markets, swinging slightly in Harris’s favor post-debate, suggesting at least a temporary shift in public confidence or at least in the bettors’ confidence.

Long-term Effects: The real question is whether this debate will spawn weeks of discussion and media cycles that could influence voter turnout or preference, similar to what was observed with Biden’s debate performance. However, as some users on X pointed out, unless it leads to sustained negative coverage or a significant gaffe that permeates beyond the debate night, its direct impact might be overstated.

In essence, while Harris might have won the night with her tactical prowess and fact-based jabs, the election’s outcome hinges on much more than a single debate. The electorate’s decision will brew over time, influenced by policy, personality, and perhaps, unpredictably humorous or absurd moments yet to come in this election cycle.

I would argue that this response is more balanced (Grok has the distinct advantage of summarizing X, which gives it a mix of opinions to pull from). I should note that I had Grok in “fun mode” and the introduction promised a “light-hearted take.” In terms of humor, Grok failed this one in epic fashion. (READ MORE from Aubrey Gulick: It’s Not About the Cats. It’s About America.)

As usual, feel free to take to the comment section and let me know what you think of AI’s take. And if you’re looking for better debate analysis than AI can give you, listen to Melissa and Scott’s full breakdown of the debate:

This is a weekly column at The American Spectator dedicated to exposing the left-wing bent of generative AI machines. If you enjoyed it and want to see what else ChatGPT or Grok comes up with, feel free to leave ideas for prompts in the comments section below!

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