With the election just around the corner, there is a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool to help Kiwis decide who they should vote for.

The ‘Explained by Gravity’ tool takes well known personalities and characters like Barbie, Elon Musk, Gollum, and more to help explain party policies in a fun and easy way for Kiwis.

Gravity Co-Founder Eoghan Neligan says this new tool will help Kiwis understand what party is a best fit for them based on age, life stage, personality and preferences.

Rather than tell who to vote for, this tool will explain policies in easily understood language.

“We aim to simplify the intricate world of politics, making it more approachable and engaging for everyone, especially for those who might feel alienated by the conventional political discourse,” says Neligan.

‘Explained by Gravity’ is a tool that was rapidly prototyped by Gravity, a group made up of immigrants who are new to the country and are unaware of what New Zealand politics is like.

Read more: Is there space for innovation in AI?

Neligan says that due to lacking a New Zealand political background, the team decided to make use of AI to help people similar to them, or any Kiwi unsure of who to vote for, more engaged.

“We were aware of other great tools but thought you would already have to have a certain level of engagement to interact with those. We thought maybe if we put a twist on the election might get someone to engage with it, take the piss but maybe learn something,” adds Neligan.

“The development process was a rapid and enlightening experience. It reinforced our belief that starting with a product and iterating on it allows for the surfacing and solving of different scenarios more effectively. It’s not just about creating a product; it’s about evolving it to meet the needs of the people.”

Using the tool, everyone can see who Barbie would vote for but also understand key policies in Barbie’s language.

Head of Studio Innovation at Gravity, Avi Shenkin, who is a French-Israeli immigrant says politics is not digestible, so making this tool transforms the complex political narratives into conversations that every Kiwi can be a part of, but is also entertaining.

“This tool is our way of contributing to a more informed and inclusive democratic process,” says Shenkin.