As the 2024 midterm elections approach, artificial intelligence (AI)-generated political advertisements have surged in prominence, particularly among Republican campaigns. According to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project, researchers identified over 220 AI-produced videos used this election cycle, with more than 80 percent of these ads linked to Republican candidates or affiliated political action committees. These AI-driven ads have been deployed across multiple states, often blending real images and voices with fabricated content, frequently without clear disclosure.
One notable example emerged in New York, where Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s campaign released an AI-generated video depicting Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul promoting a fictitious “political delusion pill” aimed at alleviating voter concerns about affordability and crime. Despite featuring realistic likenesses and voiceovers of the two Democrats, the ad did not include any disclaimer indicating it was AI-produced. The New York State Democratic Party subsequently filed a complaint alleging that Blakeman’s campaign violated state laws governing materially deceptive political communications. Blakeman’s campaign declined to comment but described the video as satirical in previous statements.
Similar AI-politically charged content appeared elsewhere. For instance, a Republican candidate for Oklahoma governor featured in an AI-created ad showing a close embrace with Hillary Clinton, labeled “Clinton Lover. Trump Hater,” while omitting any disclosure of the footage’s artificial origin. Other AI ads took more extreme liberties: one Michigan Senate ad depicted an AI-generated image of Democratic candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed laughing at cards with inflammatory messages, while a Florida Republican primary ad portrayed candidate James Fishback hosting a fictional gathering including Representative Ilhan Omar and Iranian leaders wielding scimitars.
Experts suggest that Democrats have been more cautious in adopting AI-generated advertising, partly due to their constituencies’ wariness of the technology and support for regulatory measures. Travis N. Ridout, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, noted that Democratic campaigns face heightened reputational risks by using AI tools they publicly call to regulate. Reflecting this, Democratic ads sometimes emphasized being “made by humans, not AI,” as seen in Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign in Texas.
The rapid evolution of AI has transformed political advertising by enabling faster and less expensive content creation. Veteran campaign advertiser Fred N. Davis III highlighted that AI tools have slashed production costs from millions of dollars to tens of thousands by replacing traditional filming with synthetic imagery. Campaigns similarly used AI to animate still photographs, as occurred in an ad for Oklahoma gubernatorial hopeful Chip Keating, where a former state trooper’s head was digitally moved to create a lifelike smile.
Disclosures of AI use remain inconsistent. Only about 31 percent of the ads identified by the Wesleyan Media Project contained any AI-related disclaimer, partly because state-level requirements vary. Some political operatives argue that labeling every use of AI may unjustly undermine public trust or misrepresent simple editing techniques as deceptive. The American Association of Political Consultants advocates for federal regulations that would mandate disclosure only for AI content that is intentionally misleading while protecting political speech more broadly.
Security technologist Bruce Schneier stressed that the core concern is not AI itself but the potential for deception. While the proliferation of AI-generated deepfakes had raised alarms about a flood of highly misleading content, many researchers found that most AI ads instead employed subtle alterations or created exaggerated images unlikely to be taken seriously by voters.
Despite uncertainties about how voters respond to these ads, some campaign professionals view AI-generated content as effective when it has entertainment value or emotional appeal without crossing into falsehoods. Spencer Pratt, a former Republican mayoral candidate in Los Angeles, released a series of AI-crafted attack ads praised for their creativity but ultimately failed to translate that attention into electoral success.
As AI technology continues to reshape political campaigns, the debate over transparency, regulation, and the ethical boundaries of synthetic media is intensifying ahead of the November elections.