Digital advocacy firms are using AI to generate mass public comments on local energy projects, with most submissions favoring fossil fuel development. The practice is occurring across multiple states including California and North Carolina.
Firms like CiviClick and Influent are leveraging AI capabilities to flood public comment periods on energy policy decisions, according to Bloomberg reporting. Officials reviewing policy changes are receiving inundated submissions through platforms marketed for their artificial intelligence functionality.
The comments predominantly support fossil fuel projects, raising concerns about the authenticity of public input processes. These platforms enable coordinated campaigns at scale, potentially skewing the appearance of public support for specific energy infrastructure.
Public comment periods are designed to gather genuine community feedback on proposed projects. The use of AI-generated submissions raises questions about regulatory transparency and whether decision-makers can distinguish authentic voices from automated advocacy.
The practice underscores growing tensions around AI deployment in political and regulatory processes, where automation can amplify certain narratives while obscuring genuine public sentiment.
AI demand continues to exceed computing capacity, with no oversupply expected soon. Morgan Stanley predicts companies will adopt a mixed approach, using both open and closed AI models rather than consolidating around one type.
Morgan Stanley analyst Michelle Weaver warns that while AI adoption accelerates across enterprises, limited computing capacity threatens to constrain further growth.
xAI has released Grok 4.6, an updated version of its AI assistant. The new release delivers enhanced capabilities across reasoning and response quality.