aiqbench analysis
Researchers have identified approximately $80 million in political ad spending utilizing generative AI, revealing that Republican entities are significantly more likely to deploy these tools compared to Democratic sponsors. The study highlights a critical lack of disclosure across various state jurisdictions and the prevalence of hyperrealistic deepfakes depicting prominent figures in fabricated scenarios. This trend underscores emerging regulatory challenges regarding voter deception and the asymmetric adoption of synthetic media technologies in the 2026 election cycle.
Researchers tracked $80 million in political ads using AI—and Republicans were behind 83% of them
Don't expect a disclaimer on that AI slop political ad you see this year.
The 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns are the first in which AI-generated political ads are regularly appearing on people’s televisions and social media feeds. We are researchers who have been studying political advertising through the Wesleyan Media Project since 2010. This election cycle – using data from media reports, student coders and AdImpact, a firm that tracks political ad spending – we’ve tracked about US$80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI. What we found has surprised us: AI use spans from hyperrealistic deepfakes to subtle enhancements; Republican sponsors – both candidates and interest groups – are much…
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