AI fuels a new wave of political lies

[marmar]

AI fuels a new wave of political lies
Across races from Georgia to New York, deepfakes are steering political narratives and voter perception

By Davina Hurt - Ann Skeet
Published November 29, 2025 9:00AM (EST)


(Salon) In a new political ad in Georgia’s Senate race, GOP Rep. Mike Collins‘ campaign released a video featuring incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff saying he knows his vote to shut down the government will hurt farmers: “But I wouldn’t know. I’ve only seen a farm on Instagram.” Ossoff never said any of this. When challenged on spreading disinformation using Ossoff’s likeness and voice, Collins’ campaign doubled down, saying they were pleased the ad sparked conversation — proving they were either oblivious to the dangerous precedent or had simply decided to embrace it as strategy.

While political cartoonists have long created derogatory or lampoonish images of elected officials and candidates for public office, the political imagery that can be created by artificial intelligence blurs truth and fiction in unprecedented ways. AI can make falsehoods look authentic and, when used by politicians themselves, it becomes particularly harmful. AI use that started as experimentation by campaigns has evolved into something far more troubling: It now merges satire, disinformation and official messaging that misleads voters and distorts democratic discourse.

In New York City’s recent mayoral race, former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s campaign released an ad on social media, which was later deleted, featuring purported “criminals for Zohran Mamdani” — a parade of racist caricatures that included a pimp in a purple suit, along with a drunk driver, shoplifter and domestic abuser endorsing the Democratic nominee. In one sequence, a Black man shoplifts from a bodega, his face visibly morphing mid-clip as he puts on a keffiyeh and mask before robbing the store. As AI tools grow more sophisticated, Mamdani’s election may serve as both a warning and a testament: A warning of how easily political imagery can be weaponized, and a testament to the electorate’s enduring capacity to look beyond manipulation.

In recent weeks we have seen the official X account of the National Republican Senatorial Committee post a video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also talking about the government shutdown. “Every day gets better for us,” the AI-generated video says. While the quote is accurate, the image of Schumer maniacally grinning as he says it is completely fabricated. ..................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/11/29/ai-fuels-a-new-wave-of-political-lies/