Analysis finds AI-generated political ads top $137 million
Wesleyan Media Project tallied 220 AI-assisted political ads, from subtle edits to deepfakes, and found Republicans used them more than Democrats. Sen. Adam Schiff of California urged Congress to act before the midterms.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
A new analysis from the Wesleyan Media Project found that political advertisers have spent at least $137 million on ads generated at least in part by artificial intelligence. The analysis tallied 220 such ads, ranging from subtle enhancements to convincing deepfakes. Republicans used this content more often than Democrats.
Why it matters
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned that deceptive AI-generated political ads could mislead voters and interfere with elections. He urged Congress to address the issue ahead of the midterm elections.
Timeline
- Oct 16, 11:00 AM ET: A new Wesleyan Media Project analysis tallied 220 political ads generated at least in part by AI tools, with spending totaling at least $137 million.
- Oct 16, 7:30 AM ET: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned that deceptive AI-generated political ads could mislead voters and urged Congress to act before the midterm elections.
Coverage
- Millions of dollars spent on AI-generated political ads as midterms approach (wset.com)
- Political Advertisers Have Spent At Least $137 Million on AI-Generated Ads (maxgreenwood)
- Adam Schiff Warns AI-Generated Political Ads Are Making It Harder to Know What’s Real Ahead of Midterm Elections: 'Congress Can't Afford to Sit on the Sidelines' (Yahoo News)
- $137 Million in A.I.-Generated Ads Flood the Midterms (The New York Times)
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