AI deepfake ads grow more popular in US midterm campaigns, blurring truth

American political candidates and their supporters have spent over $80 million on more than 164 AI-generated ads this election season, mostly by Republicans. Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for New York governor, released ads featuring AI-created images of Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul, who were not actually in the ads. These fake but attention-grabbing ads, known as 'slopaganda,' blend propaganda with low-quality content and can shape voter perceptions. Despite labels indicating AI creation, concerns remain about their impact on voter trust and the spread of misinformation.