How to Survive in the National Assembly in the Age of AI

“Members of Parliament are starting to ask generative AI questions instead of consulting their aides. It seems they will increasingly rely less on aides in the future.”

This statement comes from an aide who has worked in the National Assembly for 18 years. As lawmakers begin to directly ask generative AI questions that they previously directed to their aides, the role of these aides appears to be diminishing. The shrinking presence of aides, who have often been seen as 'political partners' alongside lawmakers, highlights the changes brought about by the AI era.

With AI becoming a key tool in the daily lives of citizens, its integration into the National Assembly is also transforming how parliamentary offices operate. In interviews with various parliamentary offices, aides reported actively utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini in their work. Their applications range from organizing lawmakers' schedules to drafting speeches, summarizing documents, and creating presentations. Aides noted that these tools help reduce work hours and improve efficiency. One aide mentioned that a task that typically took five hours was cut in half with AI assistance. Another aide emphasized that AI has enabled them to easily grasp unfamiliar topics through study.

However, concerns about increasing reliance on AI have also emerged. One aide pointed out an instance where a junior secretary relayed AI-generated responses without verification, stating, “It seems that younger aides are fundamentally using AI in their work and becoming overly dependent on it. The National Assembly is a place for politics, and the opportunity to think and analyze independently is diminishing.” This raises the risk of aides losing the ability to filter out errors in AI responses and to ask questions from diverse perspectives.

There are also worries that the roles of aides responsible for routine tasks, such as drafting speeches or managing social media posts, may be further diminished. In the past, aides would handle tasks like writing speeches for lawmakers' events or creating social media content, but now AI can take over much of this work. As a result, the National Assembly must grapple with how to survive in the AI era, seeking to identify roles that AI cannot replace.

The answer lies in 'politics.' Listening to the voices of local residents and stakeholders, and facilitating communication between lawmakers from different parties, remains a human responsibility. Traditionally, aides would meet before negotiations to coordinate behind the scenes. However, as partisan relations have become increasingly polarized, interactions among aides have decreased. Consequently, direct confrontations between lawmakers from opposing parties have become more frequent, narrowing the scope for negotiation. Ultimately, politics begins with human relationships. Frequent meetings, conversations, and trust-building are essential for creating space for compromise and negotiation.

Of course, AI will not merely reduce the roles of aides. Freed from repetitive and standardized tasks, aides can focus more on identifying policy gaps, analyzing local issues and public sentiment, and assisting lawmakers in their political judgments. Ultimately, the measure of an aide's competitiveness will hinge not on how much they utilize AI, but on how accurately they verify the information provided by AI and connect it to political decision-making.

The AI era is an unstoppable trend. It is crucial to actively utilize AI in work while distinguishing between tasks suited for humans and those that can be delegated to AI. To effectively leverage AI, aides must also develop their ability to understand political contexts and interpret information. They should go beyond merely accepting AI-generated answers and be able to assess whether the information aligns with facts and what political implications it carries.

The political instincts and understanding of people that aides have cultivated through years of field experience may become even more critical in the AI era. Above all, it is essential not to forget the essence of politics. While AI can provide information and enhance work efficiency, it cannot replace the human tasks of persuasion, conflict resolution, and trust-building. When communication between people becomes more active than reliance on AI, the political space within the National Assembly can expand further.