Mark Sewards , a British MP for Leeds South West and Morley, has launched an AI version of himself that responds to public complaints using his own voice.
He introduced the digital assistant , "AI Mark", through his official X account. "This prototype AI model offers my constituents an additional way to engage with their MP on local casework and policy issues. It can't replace the other work I do – it simply gives people another option to contact me, any time of day," Sewards wrote.
Encouraging residents to try the tool, he added, "I encourage any resident of Leeds South West and Morley to give AI Mark a try. This is only a prototype, and every request will help train it and make it better."
The AI responds with supportive messages or offers to forward queries to Sewards' team. While the aim is to make it easier for voters to feel heard by a voice that sounds like their MP, a disclaimer on the website reads:
“AI Mark is a prototype digital assistant – this is a work in progress and not everything it says should be taken as fact. All responses are AI-generated.”
The chatbot has attracted both interest and criticism from AI experts and the media. The Guardian reported that it struggled with accents, failing to recognise messages from people living just a few kilometres from the constituency’s border.
Dr Oman from the University of Sheffield told BBC that the growing use of AI in public services poses challenges, especially for older people. “Many don’t realise they’re speaking to a bot and assume it’s a real person. This can be confusing for them,” she said.
He introduced the digital assistant , "AI Mark", through his official X account. "This prototype AI model offers my constituents an additional way to engage with their MP on local casework and policy issues. It can't replace the other work I do – it simply gives people another option to contact me, any time of day," Sewards wrote.
Encouraging residents to try the tool, he added, "I encourage any resident of Leeds South West and Morley to give AI Mark a try. This is only a prototype, and every request will help train it and make it better."
This prototype AI model offers my constituents an additional way to engage with their MP on local casework and policy issues. It can't ever replace any of the oher work I do and it simply gives people another option to contact me, anytime of day.
— Mark Sewards MP (@MarkJSewards) August 5, 2025
The AI responds with supportive messages or offers to forward queries to Sewards' team. While the aim is to make it easier for voters to feel heard by a voice that sounds like their MP, a disclaimer on the website reads:
“AI Mark is a prototype digital assistant – this is a work in progress and not everything it says should be taken as fact. All responses are AI-generated.”
The chatbot has attracted both interest and criticism from AI experts and the media. The Guardian reported that it struggled with accents, failing to recognise messages from people living just a few kilometres from the constituency’s border.
Dr Oman from the University of Sheffield told BBC that the growing use of AI in public services poses challenges, especially for older people. “Many don’t realise they’re speaking to a bot and assume it’s a real person. This can be confusing for them,” she said.
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