'Slopaganda': AI already dominates part of midterm election advertising in the US
A survey identified 220 political ads made with artificial intelligence, but only 27% disclosed use of the technology.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
On the eve of the US midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, artificial intelligence is taking up more and more space in campaign advertising, g1 reported based on a text from France Presse. Researchers call the practice "slopaganda," a blend of propaganda and low-quality AI-generated content.
The Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks spending on election advertising, has identified 220 ads produced with the technology so far, although it believes the real number is much higher. More than US$ 137 million (R$ 753 million) was spent airing them, compared with just US$ 50,000 in 2024.
Nearly 81% of the ads were funded by Republican candidates or groups linked to the party, while Democrats accounted for 12%. The practice, however, appears on both sides.
One of the examples cited is a video against Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, featuring an AI-created family image. The ad was produced by an organization linked to Republican Senator Ted Cruz and, unlike most, discloses that it was made wholly or partly with the help of AI.
According to the researchers, few ads carry this notice: only 27% of those identified. The lack of labeling makes it harder for voters to assess the veracity of images and videos and heightens concern about disinformation.