Former Deputy Prime Minister and National Biman Prasad took aim at the use of AI-generated content in political debate, telling Parliament on Monday that tools like ChatGPT can lead to exaggerated claims if not used carefully.
“It is very easy these days… to write beautiful speeches using ChatGPT or AI, but sometimes in the process, you become overzealous and say things that are so exaggerated,” Prof Prasad said said while speaking on a motion regarding the Tavua Town Council.
He suggested that Opposition MP Virendra Lal may have overstated issues during earlier contributions to the debate.
“I think honourable Lal was probably exaggerating some of the things that he said,” he added.
Prof Prasad defended Government’s record, pointing to several budgetary allocations aimed at supporting municipalities and waste management initiatives.
He said $3.2 million had been allocated in the last Budget for waste collection subsidies, while $2.5 million was earmarked for dumpsite remediation in the Western Division.
“There is also an allocation for Special Administrators… which caters for the payment of salaries for small Municipal Councils that cannot cater for the Administrator’s salary,” he said.
Prof Prasad said these measures demonstrate Government’s commitment to supporting smaller towns, countering claims that they had been neglected.
“These are examples contrary to what honourable Lal was saying, that Government is not contributing or is not concerned about small towns,” he said.
The remarks came during a broader parliamentary debate on municipal services and Government support for local councils.
