Scott Wiener Apologizes After Campaign’s AI Chatbot Targeted Opponent Connie Chan

California State Sen. Scott Wiener apologized on Friday after his campaign launched an AI-powered chatbot, ConnieChan.ai, which circulated negative and satirical material about fellow San Francisco lawmaker Connie Chan. Wiener said the tool was intended as a parody to draw attention to what he described as Chan's record of "delay and obstruction" on housing, public transit and other local priorities, and that the chatbot and its billboards will be taken down.

Wiener's Statement

Wiener acknowledged the misstep, saying the effort "clearly missed the mark." He added: "I heard from many people who loved the idea, and I appreciate their support. But many others were offended, and I apologize for causing that offense. Innovation means trying new things, and it also means being honest when something doesn't land the way you intended."

Criticism and Concerns

A spokesperson for Chan told HuffPost the stunt raised questions about Wiener's character and judgment, saying San 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 'missing the mark.'"

"Using AI to fabricate a woman's voice for ridicule or attack is a gross misuse of technology and reflects a disturbing willingness to erase women's agency,"

That line came from a letter posted to social media by House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and nine other female lawmakers, who condemned Wiener's tactic as promoting "racist misogynistic tropes."

Connie Chan, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, has been endorsed by Pelosi ahead of the November election. Wiener is among several Democrats competing to succeed Pelosi.