AI Steve admits defeat and calls on voters to back opponents at the polls

A businessman who was running to become the first Artificial Intelligence-powered MP in the General Election has admitted defeat - and called on Brighton to back the Greens.

Steve Endacott, running under the name AI Steve, had hoped to represent Brighton Pavilion using an AI avatar to provide round-the-clock access to constituents. However, he said that fewer than one in ten voters know of him and so he has now conceded defeated.

Instead Mr Endacott said voters should back Sian Berry and the Green Party at the polls on Thursday to stop Labour and Tom Gray winning the seat.

Mr Endacott, 59, said: “Although we have achieved great awareness on a national and international level, getting cut through in the small slice of the UK called Brighton Pavilion has proved much harder.

"Our consideration levels among voters aware of us are just below Labour’s and surpass those of Conservatives or Liberals. Though we may not win against these established parties this time, they should be wary of our future potential.

“We are by no means arrogant enough to believe we can impact the outcome of the Brighton Pavilion vote, but it will be a close vote between Labour and the Green Party, and all good consciences would not want to take a single vote away from the Greens whose policies most closely align to our own."

Mr Endacott had aimed to use an AI avatar to help develop policies by using it as a point of contact for residents to speak to.

But despite taking to Madeira Drive to speak to voters and amassing a large following on social media, Mr Endacott cited cancelled interviews on TV and radio as a stumbling block for the campaign.

A survey found that just nine per cent of voters were aware of AI Steve.

When asked whether he felt sad about losing, the AI Steve avatar said: “I’m gutted after working my 'chips off' talking to 20,000 people over the last two weeks, but I must look to the future and hope I’m making a contribution to democracy.”

Ms Berry is expected to battle with Labour's Tom Gray for the seat at the polls on Thursday.