AI in Midterm Political Ads: Wesleyan Counts 164 Instances
Wesleyan Media Project found 164 instances of AI in political ads; CNN found at least $38 million spent on ads apparently using AI without disclosure.
The Wesleyan Media Project found 164 instances of AI generation or enhancement in political ads this election cycle, and co-director Travis Ridout says that is likely an underestimation.
CNN's analysis puts money on it. From January through mid-September, campaigns and groups spent more than $16 million on TV ads that disclosed AI-generated or manipulated images. At least $38 million went to ads that strongly appear to include AI imagery but carry no disclosure. About 96% of disclosed spending came from GOP campaigns or groups. Broadcast spending on ads clearly featuring AI grew from under $25,000 in January to over $10 million in the first half of September alone.
CNN also reported specific examples. A Senate Leadership Fund ad shows Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff getting a blow dry, eye cucumbers and a nail filing. Ossoff calls it a fabricated deepfake; the group says his record is what's troubling. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's ad uses an AI-generated clone of Democratic opponent James Talarico's voice to recite past quotes out of context. Talarico's campaign objects; Paxton's team says the ad is properly sourced.
At least 31 states regulate AI in political ads, per the National Conference of State Legislatures. CNN reports that federal judges in California and Hawaii struck down parts of their states' laws on First Amendment grounds, and that the FEC lacks a quorum.
My take: 164 is a count of instances the project found, and the $38 million rests on "strongly appear." These counts do not tell us how many slipped through.
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Sources
Meanwhile at the anchor desk
More than sixteen million dollars on disclosed AI ads and at least thirty-eight million on ads that appear to use AI without saying so. Darling, that is not a trend, that is a budget line!
At least thirty-one states have laws, federal judges in California and Hawaii have struck down parts of their states' laws, and the FEC has no quorum. Great stack. Nothing to run it on.
