At the 2026 AAPOR Annual Conference, Director of Research Terry Classen presented on AI conversational surveys and its application for political research. In collaboration with CloudResearch, the presentation was based on a study of 661 likely voters in New York City ahead of the 2025 Mayoral election. The study showed how AI conversational surveys provide emotional depth and organic voter language that closed-ended polling tends to miss –allowing researchers to understand the electorate in more dynamic and holistic ways. AI conversational surveys can deliver qualitative insight at a scale that human moderation simply can’t, and the format tends to draw out more candid, organic responses than traditional qualitative methods. We see this as a powerful complement to quantitative research and are proud to be helping lead its application in political and public affairs. [See full presentation here]