The AI attack-ad nightmare is ... Note
Axios

The AI attack-ad nightmare is coming true

AI-generated political ads are increasingly shaping midterm elections, raising concerns about the erosion of truth in political discourse. These ads employ deepfake technology to create fabricated scenarios, such as defaced Bibles or upscale dinners, that never occurred. Through October 11th, $137 million had been spent on approximately 220 AI-generated ads, primarily by Republican campaigns. Currently, only four states have laws prohibiting specific uses of AI in political ads, while 27 require disclosure; no federal regulations exist. Examples include ads in Georgia depicting Senator Jon Ossoff receiving beauty treatments, and in Michigan, showing Abdul El-Sayed playing a board game with "Death to America" cards. New York's Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has used AI to depict Governor Kathy Hochul in questionable scenarios. In Pennsylvania, an AI-generated ad puts words in Governor Josh Shapiro's mouth regarding data centers and political contributions. Texas Democratic candidate James Talarico has been targeted with AI ads, including one showing him defacing a Bible. A PAC backed by Donald Trump used AI to distort the appearance of Democrat Zach Dembo in Kentucky. These instances highlight a growing trend of AI being used to spread misinformation, with candidates like Ossoff and Talarico expressing alarm about its impact on democratic processes.
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