Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has responded vehemently to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) created ad that criticizes her as she purportedly prepares for a gubernatorial run. The ad was distributed on social media platforms by a Democratic candidate, Blake Gendebien, who is running in Stefanik’s district.
The controversial ad featured an AI-generated likeness of Stefanik singing a satirical song about her delay in announcing her run for the governorship. The video concludes with a disclaimer stating that it was AI-generated, accompanied by the caption “We Decided To Announce For Elise Stefanik, Since She Can’t Seem To Do It Herself.”
Gendebien, in his post accompanying the video, stated, “Elise Stefanik is not fooling anyone,” implying that Stefanik’s leadership in Congress fell short of expectations. He urged his constituents to “Send a farmer to Congress.”
Stefanik expressed disapproval towards New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Jay Jacobs, the chair of the New York Democrats, for their failure to condemn the ad. The Stefanik team released a statement calling the ad “misogynistic” and a “sexist smear,” deeming it “offensive, belittling, and confusing to voters, especially seniors.” They urged both Gov. Hochul and Jacobs to publicly denounce the ad.
This development follows earlier reports that highlight the emerging role of AI in political campaigns, raising important questions about the ethics and potential misuse of technology. As of now, there has been no official response from Gov. Hochul or Jacobs to Stefanik’s call for condemnation. The facts, as we now know them, suggest that this incident is a clear example of the ongoing debate about the role and regulation of AI in the political landscape.
