When you hear the word 'politician', what is the first image or emotion that comes to mind?

The voice is young, female, brisk and business-like – a computer programme. An AI agent processes what you're saying while you air a cynical opinion of politicians.

Naratis, a French company founded in 2025 by Pierre Fontaine, conducts this kind of AI polling. Their method is ‘10 times faster, 10 times cheaper and 90% as accurate as human polling’. But can machines truly capture the complexity of human thought?

The rise of AI polling comes at a difficult time for the industry. Response rates have fallen sharply, making polls less representative and fueling public distrust.

While some firms integrate AI, caution remains strong in politically-sensitive areas. The benefits are clear: speed, cost-effectiveness, and richer data collection. But the risks are significant – and trust is a major issue.