New Jersey’s lieutenant governor Dale Caldwell resigned on September 25th following an investigation that concluded he sexually harassed a staffer and repeatedly violated ethics rules. During a subsequent interview with NJ PBS host Rob Nelson, the former official attempted to discredit the report by claiming artificial intelligence supported his innocence. He stated he fed the investigation details into multiple AI platforms and received fifty-nine responses asking what the findings would be, suggesting the report lacked substance. This tactic relies on the assumption that machine output validates human claims, a logical fallacy that ignores the nature of generative models. AI systems create text based on patterns rather than fact-checking reality or verifying specific allegations against evidence. Relying on such tools to clear a name offers no protection against documented misconduct and misrepresents the function of the technology. The strategy highlights a growing misunderstanding of how these systems operate within public discourse.
* Generative models predict text based on probability, not verified facts or evidence.
* An AI response does not constitute an official finding or legal exoneration.
* The investigation report remains the authoritative record of Caldwell’s conduct.
