{"id":992013,"date":"2026-08-10T00:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T00:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/992013\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T00:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T00:04:14","slug":"scott-wiener-pulls-ai-chatbot-parody-of-rival-connie-chan-after-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/992013\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott Wiener pulls AI chatbot parody of rival Connie Chan after backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"

California state Sen. Scott Wiener is pulling the plug on a controversial AI chatbot<\/a> and the billboards promoting it after his campaign faced a furious backlash over the parody targeting his congressional rival Connie Chan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wiener, who is running to replace former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi<\/a> in San Francisco\u2019s 11th Congressional District, announced Friday his campaign would remove ConnieChan.ai, along with the ads directing voters to it.<\/p>\n

The chatbot was created as a campaign attack on Chan, portraying what Wiener said was her record on housing, public transportation and other issues.<\/p>\n

Scott Wiener is running to replace former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco\u2019s 11th Congressional District. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

But the stunt quickly became a political headache<\/a>, with Pelosi and a coalition of Democratic politicians and organizations condemning the use of artificial intelligence to imitate Chan.<\/p>\n

Wiener said his campaign had intended the chatbot to be an unconventional way of drawing attention to what he characterized as Chan\u2019s record of \u201cdelay and obstruction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy campaign created ConnieChan.ai as a parody to draw attention to my opponent\u2019s record of delay and obstruction around housing, public transit, and other critical needs,\u201d Wiener said in a statement. <\/p>\n

Sen. Wiener announced Friday his campaign would remove ConnieChan.ai, along with the ads directing voters to it. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Wiener said the chatbot was an unconventional way of drawing attention to Chan\u2019s record of \u201cdelay and obstruction.\u201d San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we are taking down the chatbot, and the billboards that promoted it will come down soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The senator acknowledged that the campaign tactic had backfired, saying the controversy had overshadowed the issues he wanted voters to focus on.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut our use of an AI chatbot clearly missed the mark,\u201d Wiener said. \u201cThe conversation became about the tactic instead of the issues that actually matter to San Franciscans \u2014 housing and health care they can afford, transit that works, schools that serve every kid, and a downtown that comes back stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reversal came after Pelosi and other prominent Democrats piled on.<\/p>\n

In a joint statement attributed to Pelosi, members of Congress, San Francisco supervisors and local Democratic groups objected to AI being used to put words into a female candidate\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen have spent generations fighting to have our own voices heard in the halls of power. We should not have to now fight against artificial intelligence putting words in our mouths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wiener later apologized to people who were offended, while noting that some supporters had liked the concept. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The group called the chatbot \u201ca gross misuse of technology,\u201d arguing that using AI to fabricate a woman\u2019s voice<\/a> for political ridicule could reinforce sexist stereotypes and undermine women in public life.<\/p>\n

The coalition also warned that AI-generated impersonations could damage public trust and urged political candidates not to use the technology to strip women of their identity or agency for electoral gain.<\/p>\n

Chan\u2019s campaign delivered its own broadside.<\/p>\n

\u201cScott Wiener can rightly take down his bigotry bot, but he can\u2019t erase the concerns it raised among San Franciscans about his character and judgment,\u201d Connie Chan spokesperson Ian Krager said in a statement to KRON4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Franciscans deserve better than a campaign funded by Big AI weaponizing the technology to mock an immigrant woman of color, doubling down after justified outrage, then reversing course and shrugging it off as simply \u2018missing the mark.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cConnie Chan will keep her campaign focused on fighting for working families, affordable housing, reliable transit, and responsible AI \u2014 without turning San Francisco voters into a political experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pelosi has endorsed Chan to fill her seat representing California\u2019s 11th Congressional District. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Wiener later apologized to people who were offended, while noting that some supporters had liked the concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard from many people who loved the idea, and I appreciate their support,\u201d Wiener said. \u201cBut many others were offended, and I apologize for causing that offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

The clash comes as Wiener and Chan head toward a November showdown for the seat Pelosi has held since 1987.<\/p>\n

Wiener finished first in the June 2 primary, with roughly 41% of the vote, while Chan came in second, with about 30%, sending both candidates into the general election runoff on November 3.<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/p>\n

California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post <\/strong>Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t