{"id":42100,"date":"2026-04-28T10:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/?p=42100"},"modified":"2026-04-28T10:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:48:11","slug":"political-ai-article-revision-april-2026_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/political-ai-article-revision-april-2026_\/","title":{"rendered":"Political AI Article (revision April 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Media Literacy Moment: Will Students Be Able to Recognize AI in Political Ads?<\/strong>
\nby Frank W Baker\u00a0 (revision)<\/p>\n

Caveat emptor<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Latin for “let the buyer beware”)\u00a0 is an expression that means we have the responsibility
\nto check something out before making a purchase, or else we might be fooled or taken advantage of.\u00a0 The same can be said about being aware of the promises candidates might make in their commercials.<\/p>\n

I have previously written<\/a> about what students should know about political commercials in this space.
\nBut admittedly much has changed since I provided this advice.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve entered another political campaign season where candidates and their advertising firms are
\ncrafting the persuasive messages they hope will sway voters. But this time, there is a new tool in their toolbox.
\nYou\u2019ve head of AI (artificial intelligence) but do you know about Generative AI?<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerative AI (GenAI) is\u00a0a type of artificial intelligence that creates new content\u2014including text, images, video, audio, and software code\u2014in response to user prompts. Unlike traditional AI, which analyzes existing data, generative AI learns patterns from large datasets to generate original, human-like content, such as that produced by\u00a0ChatGPT,\u00a0Midjourney, or\u00a0DALL-E\u201d<\/strong> (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

In 2026, as we approach the mid-term elections, experts are already warning: \u201c\u201cAnytime \u00a0generative AI is used to create messaging or imagery that is misleading,\u201d said an advertising executive. (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

What if you could alter someone\u2019s voice or even change their appearance in a TV commercial? That technology already exists and it has been used. In 2026, will voters (and students) recognize it or even care?<\/p>\n

MEDIA LITERACY MOMENT<\/strong>
\nI believe THIS is a crucial civics and media literacy moment\u2014all of us need to fine tune our critical thinking skills because someone out there, right now, is creating content to fool us (and it is guaranteed to spread like wildfire on social media.)<\/p>\n

As we enter this next political campaign season, the fear is that more campaigns and candidates may use AI-generated content in their commercials. \u00a0(Some already have.) With AI-generated content already exploding on social media, will your students be able to differentiate between the real and the fake? (apologies to Mr. Shakespeare –\u201cTo be or not to be, THAT is the question\u201d.)<\/p>\n

” Deepfakes (digitally altered videos) have advanced to the point where even experts cannot easily discern true from false.\u201d (Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

What happens when a candidate uses AI in their commercials? What are the current rules and regulations and who is monitoring all of those thousands of races in 50 states? How can we prepare students for the inevitable time when AI begins to be common in campaigns? Those are some of the questions I sought to answer when
\nwriting and researching this article.<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong>
\nFederal law requires political ads to include who paid for the ad and whether it was authorized
\nby the candidate. But for now, there are no federal laws governing AI-generated ads.<\/p>\n

Political ads are considered \u201cfree speech,\u201d and as such, candidates CAN say anything and broadcasters are
\nprevented from censoring the ads or refusing to air them. But now that AI-generated ads
\nhave become a thing, the rules are slowly changing and becoming increasingly clear.<\/p>\n

Major platforms, like Facebook, require labels for AI-altered, election-related content,
\nwhile state level laws (and proposed federal rules) mandate disclaimers for synthetic
\naudio\/video, with penalties for non-compliance. (Source: Federalregister.gov)<\/p>\n

X (formerly Twitter) has also initiated a rule requiring ads on its platforms to be labeled
\nwhen AI is used.<\/p>\n

Many states<\/a> have passed laws requiring disclosure of so-called \u201csynthetic content.\u201d Some of those states require on-screen graphics such as \u201cthis (image\/video\/audio) \u00a0has been manipulated or generated by AI\u201d on relevant political ads.<\/p>\n

But what if those graphic notifications are so small that viewers won\u2019t see them? That’s exactly what I found in this example of\u00a0a 2025 political ad<\/a>\u00a0criticizing NY Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The disclaimer is in fact so small on screen so briefly that viewers may not even notice it.
\nIt reads: “This ad was generated in whole or substantially by artificial intelligence.”
\nCurrently, there are no laws dictating how long a disclaimer must be on the screen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(screen grab from anti Stephanik ad)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cThough helpful from a voter standpoint, (disclaimer) labeling does not deal with the problem of ads conveying fictitious or erroneous information\u201d writes tech expert Darrell West in an op-ed published in the Washington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That is when fact-checking may be the most valuable education resource students should use.
\nReliable factcheckers like FactCheck.org, Politifact.com and AP Fact Check (among many others) will be busy reviewing such ads and informing potential voters of what\u2019s true and what\u2019s not.
\n\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/p>\n

AI Awareness For Students<\/strong>
\nWhat do your students need to know about AI generated campaign commercials? As a media educator, I urge ABS\u2014Always Be Skeptical. If you suspect something is not real, and it may not be\u2014that\u2019s the time to CHECK IT OUT.<\/p>\n

What does CHECK IT OUT mean? I am in the habit of using tools like TINEYE.com and GOOGLE\u2019s reverse image search to verify whether a photo is real or fake. What about video? \u00a0Google LENS may also come in handy here, but some report that it\u2019s not always reliable.<\/p>\n

It may not surprise you that there already exists several applications that can be used to verify whether media has been altered. Among them:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Virus detection company McAfee recommends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nA publicly accessible platform where you can upload media
\nand select different detection models for a probability score.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nOffers a user-friendly\u00a0online scanner\u00a0specifically for
\ndetecting\u00a0deepfake\u00a0videos.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nA browser extension that alerts you in real-time if a
\nvideo you are watching has AI-generated audio.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\nApps like\u00a0ForgeSpy\u00a0on Google Play allow you to run basic AI
\ndetection directly from your phone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Using A Political Ad Analysis Worksheet With Students<\/strong>
\nSome years ago, I created the\u00a0Political Ad Analysis Worksheet<\/a>\u2014a one page handout designed to help students understand the various techniques used in political commercials. The advice on this resource is still relevant, even in a world where more content is manipulated.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

If an ad does utilize AI generated images or video, media watchdogs and factcheckers will most certainly
\nflag these and report on the specific techniques employed to make it look authentic. What techniques should students watch out for?<\/p>\n

Several websites cite these\u00a0techniques:
\n–Unnatural features\/movement-<\/strong> like perfect skin, strange eye movements, extra fingers
\nor misaligned earrings or eyeglasses
\n–Background inconsistencies<\/strong>– text in AI images is often jumbled and objects may look
\ndistorted or unnatural
\n–Lighting Inconsistency<\/strong>– unnatural shadows
\n–Audio\/Video Mismatches<\/strong>– lips may not be synchronized with the voice, or the sound is
\nrobotic, lacking natural pauses or breaks
\n– Too Good To Be True<\/strong>\u2014video that appears amateur-looking or Hollywood level quality
\n(Sources: WRAL and Capitol Technology University)<\/p>\n

The Brennan Center for Justice<\/a> also offers this valuable advice for how to spot and evaluate suspicious content:
\n– Be skeptical
\n– Check the source (is it a legitimate candidate or a Super PAC or something else)
\n– Look for labels (refers to those state or national laws requiring AI ads to be labeled)
\n-Verify independently (by using reliable fact-check websites)<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong>
\nSeveral years ago, while working with a large group of social studies educators, I engaged them in
\nan activity in which they had to write a 30-second campaign ad \u00a0using a specific candidate and an issue.
\nAll of the teachers agreed that this activity\u00a0was a real challenge but it demonstrated how\u00a0those commercials are created and what techniques they use. At the same time, they were challenged to consider
\n\u201cwho\u2019s the audience?\u201d for this ad;
\n“what techniques were used to attract attention and increase believability?”; and
\n\u201cwhere (TV, radio, streaming service) might a candidate air their message in order to reach that demographic\u201d?<\/p>\n

As educators you might consider using a known AI-generated commercial in the classroom to engage them starting with the question: \u201cis this real\u2014how do you know\u201d; “how would you go about verifying it”\u00a0and \u201cwhat techniques do you recognize as being AI\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u00a0RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

US Law AI Tracker
\nhttps:\/\/ai-law-center.orrick.com\/us-ai-law-tracker-see-all-states\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Generative AI in Political Advertising | Brennan Center for Justice
\nhttps:\/\/share.google\/wGnZPQw61Wa1o8ogP<\/a><\/p>\n

AI in Political Attack Ads \u2013 Watch State Laws on Deep Fakes and Synthetic Media in
\nPolitical Content | Broadcast Law Blog\u00a0https:\/\/share.google\/6sb2WbeiQ8m4rqHcQ<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another Media Literacy Moment: Will Students Be Able to Recognize…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-42100","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-popular"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42100"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42114,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42100\/revisions\/42114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frankwbaker.com\/mlc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}