In a move that sparked online controversy and a swift apology, a candidate for the federal New Democratic Party leadership has admitted to using artificial intelligence to answer questions from the public on social media.
AI Answers Spark Backlash on Reddit
Rob Ashton, a longshore worker and union president vying to lead the NDP, found himself at the centre of criticism this week. The issue stemmed from an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session he hosted on the social media platform Reddit on January 11, 2026. Ashton had invited users to question him about his vision for the party and his reasons for running.
The forum, held on the NDP's official Reddit page, saw constituents pose inquiries on a range of topics from climate change and fossil fuels to employment and his French-language skills. Ashton, using the username Rob-Ashton-NDP, appeared to respond to the posts in real-time.
User Spots AI-Generated Content
The situation unravelled the following day when an astute Reddit user publicly called out the candidate. The user pointed out that several of Ashton's responses "were clearly written by AI." The critic expressed particular disappointment, noting that Ashton had been "vocally opposed to AI" and that their own job opportunities had been negatively affected by the technology.
This accusation struck at the core of Ashton's stated policy. During the very same AMA, when asked how he would fight the "increasing prevalence of AI," Ashton had written that "AI is being used to replace workers, exploit artists and creators, spread misinformation, and undermine democracy — all in the interest of corporate profit. That’s not acceptable." He advocated for "strong regulation" and accountability.
Candidate Issues Public Apology
Faced with the backlash, Ashton posted a public apology on the Reddit thread. He explained that the AMA had received an "overwhelming number of questions," which he called a privilege. However, he stated he was "on the road" and didn't want people to "wait too long for an answer."
Ashton said he had asked his campaign team and volunteers to draft answers for his review. "And it looks like some answers were posted without me reviewing and approving," he wrote. "Some of those answers were written with the help of AI tools and I’m deeply sorry about that."
He emphasized accountability as a key part of leadership and promised the incident would not happen again. Ashton committed to deleting the AI-assisted responses and answering the questions personally within a few days.
Leadership Race Context and Rival's Response
The incident occurred in the heat of the NDP leadership race, where Ashton is competing against Heather McPherson, Tony McQuail, Avi Lewis, and Tanille Johnston. The AI controversy quickly became a topic among rivals.
In a separate AMA held by candidate Tony McQuail on Monday, January 13, a user directly referenced Ashton's situation. The user asked McQuail how he felt about "AI being used by politicians for interviews and other interactions with the public," explicitly mentioning that Ashton's responses were "generated by AI."
The episode highlights the growing tension between the efficiency offered by new technologies and the demand for authenticity in political communication, a challenge all modern campaigns must now navigate.
