AI in Campaigns: The Good, the Bad, and the Untrustworthy

The Rise of AI in Political Campaigns: A Double-Edged Sword

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept for political strategists—it’s a present-day force, transforming how campaigns are run and how voters experience democracy. The good? Campaigns are more efficient, creative, and targeted than ever. The bad? The risk of manipulation, misinformation, and voter confusion is skyrocketing.

“What AI has done is less than a minute. What used to take us 20, now it takes AI less than a minute.” — Sisto Abeyta

Real-World Examples: When AI Goes on the Campaign Trail

Let’s start with the facts. In the 2024 U.S. presidential primaries, the Republican National Committee released an entirely AI-generated ad depicting dystopian images of America under a Biden re-election. The images were so realistic that viewers struggled to tell if they were real or fake (source). On the other side of the aisle, local campaigns have begun using AI to automate everything from personalized mailers to deepfake robocalls.

A Pew Research Center study reports that 52% of Americans are concerned about distinguishing between AI-generated and authentic content in political news.

Deepfake Democracy: Voter Confusion and Erosion of Trust

The danger is real. A recent MIT study found that nearly half of Americans have difficulty identifying AI-generated news, and deepfakes are already being used to impersonate politicians and mislead voters. The result? An erosion of trust in the democratic process.

This isn’t just a hypothetical. In 2023, a deepfake robocall mimicking President Biden’s voice was sent to thousands of New Hampshire voters, urging them not to vote in the state’s primary (NPR). The confusion and outrage were immediate.

The Good: Efficiency and Engagement

It’s not all doom and gloom. AI is making campaigns more agile and responsive. From instant content creation to hyper-targeted outreach, campaigns can now reach voters in ways never before possible. For grassroots movements, this levels the playing field against big-money interests.

The Bad: Manipulation at the Speed of Light

But with great power comes great risk. AI can generate fake videos, create misleading memes, and flood social media with misinformation in seconds. The speed and scale are unprecedented.

“Ultimately, AI will be that conspirator assassination of ideas and values upon the American public. It is our new Ides of March.” — Eddie Ableser

Where Do We Go from Here?

Voters must stay vigilant. Fact-checking, media literacy, and transparency in campaign ads are more important than ever. Regulators and tech companies are scrambling to catch up, but the responsibility also falls on each of us to question what we see and hear.

Conclusion

AI is revolutionizing political campaigns—for better and for worse. The tools that empower can also deceive. As we said on Cactus Crossfire, “Stay engaged, stay skeptical, and don’t settle for easy answers.” Democracy depends on it.

Join the discussion: Episode 4 is out Monday, September 8.