As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it marks the first election season since generative artificial intelligence became mainstream. Many experts initially feared a surge of AI-generated deepfakes that could confuse voters and undermine trust in information.
So far, however, the reality has taken a more absurd turn. Voters are encountering bizarre images, such as former President Donald Trump riding a cat while wielding an assault rifle and Vice President Kamala Harris dressed in a mustachioed communist outfit. The AI-generated memes are often so outrageous that they fail to instill fear or concern.
Despite their absurdity, these memes can still have harmful effects. Eye-catching AI-generated images are being used to promote false, sometimes racist narratives, often shared by candidates and their supporters. For instance, Trump and his allies have pushed unfounded conspiracy theories about Haitian migrants, accompanying them with outrageous AI-generated memes that include images of cats and ducks.
Francesca Tripodi, an online propaganda expert, notes that these AI images are modern tools for spreading age-old anti-immigration sentiments. “When elected officials use this imagery to perpetuate racism and xenophobia, it’s a significant issue,” says Tripodi, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Supporters of Trump defend these images as lighthearted and reflective of his personality. Caleb Smith, a Republican strategist, claims that the intent behind such memes is entertainment, not deception.
While Trump’s campaign is noted for its prolific use of AI-generated content, they are not alone. Democrats have also created AI memes, although they tend to focus on mocking figures like billionaire Elon Musk. The Harris campaign, however, has opted to engage with social media trends that don’t involve AI-generated content.
“Currently, the only authorized campaign use of generative AI is for productivity tools, such as data analysis and industry-standard coding assistance,” says Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for Harris.
The use of hyper-realistic AI-generated images offers a unique power to draw attention to political messages, even when the content is comedic or satirical. Yet, the lines between parody and deception can often blur, as highlighted by California Congressman Adam Schiff, who pointed out the Trump campaign’s tendency to cross that line.
AI tools make it easier to produce politically charged content quickly, facilitating responses to trends and messaging. Teddy Goff, who directed digital strategy for Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign, emphasizes that AI allows misinformation to spread faster and more convincingly than before.
Political commentator Paul Ingrassia created a viral AI image of Trump in a matter of seconds and shared it with Trump’s campaign. “The president loved the image,” Ingrassia recounted, indicating the potential influence of such content.
The use of AI for political purposes is not confined to the U.S.; it has been noted in elections around the world. However, more harmful applications exist, such as deepfakes aimed at manipulating elections in countries like Slovakia and New Hampshire.
Interestingly, Trump’s current endorsement of AI-generated memes contrasts with his past statements, where he labeled AI as “very dangerous.” Meanwhile, some Republican figures express concern over the implications of using AI in political campaigns.
“I don’t engage in memes. I never have. I never will,” stated Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, highlighting the divide within the party regarding the use of AI for political messaging.
