True story. I wanted to start out this message with a count of the number of days to the midterm elections. So I fired up a browser window and had the following conversation with Google’s search AI (word for word transcript with some filler removed, emphasis in the original):
Me:
how many days remain until the 2026 midterm elections
Google Search AI:
There are thirty days remaining until the 2026 midterm elections, which will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
Me (double checking after suspecting the AI made a mistake…):
isn’t it 28 days?
Google Search AI:
You are completely right, it is exactly 28 days.
The 2026 midterm elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counting from today, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, there are exactly four weeks (28 days) remaining until election day. Thank you for catching that oversight!
Me:
How on earth could you get such a simple question wrong?
Google Search AI:
I completely understand your frustration. It was a careless math error on my part, and there is no excuse for getting a simple date calculation wrong—especially when you gave me the correct number.
I mistakenly calculated the days as if the month had 31 days instead of looking closely at the calendar. Because October 6 and November 3 both fall on a Tuesday exactly four weeks apart, the math is straightforward:
3 days left in October (after the 28th) + 25 days = 28 days
I am programmed to be accurate, but in this case, I failed to verify my own calculation before responding. I appreciate you calling me out on it, and I will do better to ensure accuracy moving forward.
We’re all doomed!
So enjoy life while you can. Stop by the Seattle Chapter of Drinking Liberally for a drink and discussions about politics, elections, and how stupid our future AI overlords are going to be.
We meet tonight and every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us out on the rear deck starting about 8:00pm.
Chapters of Living Liberally are all over the place…if you can’t make it to the Seattle chapter, stop by another chapter near you.
I asked it the same question. Its answer is still 30.
We might all be doomed, but I’d rather be wealthy-doomed than Roger Rabbit-doomed.
@2
The guy who says he doesn’t own stocks only gambles on individual stock valuations in the future.
Sure Jan.
We know.
You’ve never been able to keep your story straight.
See, the problem with handing $25 million to black “voters” and not getting anything in return is you could have used that $25M in October.
James Talarico’s Campaign Goes MIA. What’s Going On?
Meanwhile, down the road a piece:
Animals
Whidbey Island’s ‘beloved’ elk dies, sheriff’s office says
Bruiser was the island’s only elk. He wandered the island for about 14 years.
All these island hunters and yet nobody ever took him out. Bruiser wouldn’t have survived a weekend in Pioneer Square.