Images and clips that seem real can now be created at speed with AI, fueling political narratives in the United States, Canada, and beyond. As dreamlike scenes of border crises, crowded cities, and anxious seniors become plausible, audiences may mistake fiction for fact. Yet these scenes originate in artificial intelligence and are part of a growing strategy to sway voters without touching real events. The technology has the potential to influence campaigns, and it is not the last word in this trend.
Leaders and commentators worldwide are monitoring the rapid development of AI tools that can craft messages with unprecedented visual impact. Programs like Midjourney and Dall-E 2 enable the production of convincing imagery that challenges the line between photography and fabrication. When public figures appear in altered or fantastical settings, they illustrate how easily media can be manipulated. A doctored image of a public figure wearing an unlikely outfit or in an unusual setting demonstrates what digital artistry can accomplish. This marks a new era for political communication, where AI accelerates the creation of imagery used to transmit ideas while shifting the rules of the game. A sociologist from the University of Cambridge notes the shift and its implications for how messages travel online.
AI generated visuals, sometimes called deep fakes, have begun to appear in campaigns. A municipal election campaign in Spain included images that combined everyday scenes with apocalyptic visions of crowded queues and neglected streets. Meanwhile profile pictures of political figures on social networks show signs of artistic filtering. Political imagery is no longer the sole domain of official campaigns, as activists from across the spectrum adopt these tools to shape slogans and narratives.
accelerated misinformation
The risks behind this technology are real. Experts warn that believable fabrications can fuel violent campaigns and breed disinformation, whether created deliberately or accidentally. Historical cases include digital recreations that imitate presidents to spread falsehoods, and although some attempts were obvious fakes, the complexity of such content continues to grow and can blur the difference between fact and fiction.
Governments are experimenting with tools that push propaganda into new spaces. In several nations a state media apparatus has produced fake news servers to advance official narratives, while public figures adopt AI generated imagery to boost their public image on platforms like TikTok. Such developments underscore how AI can be used to shape perception and influence audiences across borders.
In the upcoming elections, more than a billion people are expected to vote in the United States, India, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia, and Indonesia. Regulators are still catching up with the challenges posed by manipulated content. Some jurisdictions have moved to require clear identification for altered media, but broad, universal standards remain elusive.
ChatGPT enters the campaign
The emergence of ChatGPT marks a turning point in political communication. This AI chat system can generate humanlike responses to a wide range of prompts in near real time. Political teams are already testing it to craft campaign messages, respond to attacks, and tailor content to different social networks. While the provider cautions against using the tool for political campaign materials, the practical benefits are apparent to advisers who navigate quick, targeted messaging across channels. An industry expert notes that this technology is especially useful for forming counter narratives and updating content formats for each platform.
The technology also invites new forms of engagement, including personalized assistants and interactive media that expand creative options for campaigns. Yet the reliability of AI outputs remains imperfect; occasional errors may be presented as facts. This creates a nuanced dynamic for candidates and teams who must balance speed and accuracy. As political groups invest more, experts anticipate broader adoption and lower campaign costs, which could drive a substantial shift in how elections are conducted. Observers suggest that the use of AI in large-scale campaigns will grow further in the near term, signaling a new phase in political strategy.