Study finds more than $137 million spent on AI political ads in the US
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The Wesleyan Media Project identified 220 political ads made with artificial intelligence for the US midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, and recorded more than $137 million in spending on their distribution. In 2024, this type of advertising had involved only $50,000. The researchers believe the actual number of ads is higher, however. Nearly 81% of the identified materials were funded by Republican candidates or groups linked to the party, compared with 12% by Democrats. Only 27% disclosed the use of AI, according to Erika Franklin Fowler, the project’s co-director.
The practice, called “slopaganda,” combines political advertising with low-quality AI-generated content. An ad linked to Republican Senator Ted Cruz portrayed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed with images and messages associated with extremism, while a video targeting Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff was accused of using AI without disclosure. The US has no federal rule requiring campaigns to disclose such use, although some states have imposed restrictions.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
The sharp increase in spending and the low disclosure rate may make it harder for voters to identify AI-generated content in political ads. Because the US has no federal disclosure requirement, the case also highlights the fragmented rules across states and the need to consider transparency proposals carefully.
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