For Subscribers AI blurs lines in campaign ads: ‘People are seeing things that didn’t happen’

Campaigns and outside groups are spending heavily on TV ads built with AI-generated imagery, and many never tell viewers. CNN's review of ad-tracking data found over $16 million went to spots that disclosed AI use from January to mid-September, and at least $38 million to ads that strongly appear to use it without disclosure. Only about half of states require labels. Spending on such ads was under $25,000 in January yet topped $10 million across just the first half of September. Republicans account for about 96% of the disclosed spending.

Examples include a Senate Leadership Fund ad, with no disclosure, showing Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff getting salon treatments, which he called a fabrication and asked to have pulled. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's campaign aired an ad with an AI version of Senate rival James Talarico drawing in a Bible, carrying a small label. In Michigan, a PAC linked to Sen. Ted Cruz showed Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed laughing at hostile messages, disclosing AI use only in tiny text at the end.

Some ads have been taken off air after complaints. Political scientist Travis Ridout warns that even with disclaimers, "seeing is believing."

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →