Should voters let chatbots do their election homework?

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Kimberly Adams (1:00)

Why economic uncertainty is translating into a flood of imports? And would you lean on a chat bot to help guide your midterm vote?

From Marketplace in Washington, I'm Kimberly Adams. US ports continue to have a banner year. The Port of Long Beach, part of the largest shipping complex in the world, just had the best month ever in its 115-year history, importing nearly 1 million shipping containers in September. Marketplace's Kaylee Wells explains why.

Kaylee Wells (1:29)

Traditionally, September has been when holiday shopping imports arrive, but Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hasegaba says that rush came in the summer this year, and yet September was still the port's biggest month ever.

Noel Hasegawa (1:41)

Your traditional peaks and valleys have essentially been replaced by a tsunami of cargo.

Kaylee Wells (1:47)

Tariffs have created uncertainty, and Dale Rogers, who teaches logistics and supply chain management at Arizona State, says when the future is uncertain.

Dale Rogers (1:56)

There's this belief, hey, let's get it into the US because what we know today is more certain than what will maybe happen next month or the month after and so on.

Kaylee Wells (2:08)

Importing right now is also attractive because big geopolitical changes are not likely right before the midterms.

Long Beach in particular is also benefiting from the ongoing drought restrictions in the Panama Canal. Lisa Elram teaches Supply Chain Management at Miami University in Ohio.

Lisa Ellram (2:25)

It's taken close to 200 fewer ships per month, I think in September, because of the water levels.

Kaylee Wells (2:34)

And a lot of those ships end up in Long Beach instead. I'm Kaylee Wells for Marketplace.

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Kimberly Adams (4:02)

Are you doing your homework ahead of voting in the midterm elections this year or just planning to wing it at the ballot box? While you may have a good idea already about who you want for House, Senate or Governor, there's still other studying to do before election day. In 2026, the word homework often means ask an AI-powered chat bot. And for voters, that's both a resource and a risk. Marketplace's Future Effects correspondent David Brancaccio has that story.

David Brancaccio (4:30)

It's a little easy to dub this the first AI-powered election cycle. Some voters are ready and willing, others are not. In New York, 24-year-old Alyssa Ponce says she doesn't need no stinking chat bot to show her what to do.

Alyssa Ponce (4:43)

Absolutely not. You shouldn't need one because you see what's happening every day.

David Brancaccio (4:48)

Others are either on the fence or going for it.

Alyssa Ponce (4:51)

I think maybe for the more obscure elections where I don't have go-to resources already.

SPEAKER_11 (4:58)

I would actually because that would be my first source, but I would check other sources.