Explainer: How AI muddies the waters ahead of U.S. midterm elections?

AI-driven disinformation is rapidly increasing ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks AI-generated political ads. In early October, it identified 220 such advertisements worth more than $137 million—up sharply from $50,000 in the 2024 cycle—though the group says the figure is likely an underestimate because detecting AI use is difficult. Analysts warn many ads are not disclosing AI involvement, risking voter confusion and election integrity. Examples highlighted include misleading or provocative visuals involving political figures and controversial themes. A survey by the American Association of Political Consultants Foundation found only 1% of respondents see AI as their most credible source, yet one in five plans to use AI to research races, and twice that share already received AI search summaries.