AI political ads are becoming more common across US airwaves and social media as the midterm elections approach. One example includes a political ad featuring Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton using AI to depict his Democratic rival James Talarico making controversial statements. Talarico condemned the ad, stating it misrepresents him and supports a ban on deepfake technology in political campaigns.
The rise of AI-generated ads has sparked concerns about their impact on civic discourse. Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University, noted that while people may not believe the ads, they could lead to skepticism about all content, undermining trust in the electoral process. The Wesleyan Media Project reported at least 164 political ads this year that were generated or enhanced using AI, with total spending estimated at just under $80 million.
Despite concerns, some view AI tools as cost-effective alternatives for ad production. Isabel Linzer from the Center for Democracy & Technology described them as the modern political cartoon, suggesting they may generate media attention for candidates. However, Scott Babwah Brennen from New York University indicated that while these ads may attract attention, their effectiveness in influencing voter behavior remains uncertain.
As public sentiment shifts against AI, there is a possibility that negative AI-generated ads could backfire, impacting the perception of those who produce them.