Title: Artificial Intelligence Used to Simulate Trump’s Voice in Attack Ad, Sparks Controversy
Artificial Intelligence technology has reportedly been utilized to simulate the voice of former US President Donald Trump in a political attack advertisement targeting 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump. The ad, released by Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ White House aspirations, features remarks seemingly spoken by Trump himself. However, it has been revealed that Trump wrote the statements rather than physically recording them.
According to Politico’s sources familiar with the advertisement, Never Back Down employed AI to reproduce Trump’s voice based on the text he had composed in a social media post on his Truth Social platform. While a representative from Never Back Down confirmed the use of technology to voice Trump’s words, no further details regarding the specific AI technology employed were provided.
It should be noted that DeSantis’ campaign is legally restricted from directly coordinating with Never Back Down. However, the super PAC has found alternative means to support the Florida governor’s campaign, including financing a $100 million initiative to reach Republican voters in crucial early states. Never Back Down has also hosted DeSantis at various events.
In this particular ad, which is currently being aired in Iowa, Trump’s comments were directed at Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. The ad questions why Trump is expending energy attacking Republicans instead of focusing on combating Democrats. Considering that Iowa is home to the pivotal first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses, which will mark the beginning of the GOP primary season in less than six months, Trump’s decision to target Reynolds risks alienating a popular figure in this crucial early state.
Unsurprisingly, the use of a simulated Trump voice in the ad has sparked controversy. A representative from Trump’s campaign condemned the AI-generated voice, labeling it as a desperate attempt to deceive the American public. Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, criticized the Never Back Down group, referring to them as Always Back Down and sarcastically mocking DeSantis by using Trump’s nickname for him.
Representatives from DeSantis’ campaign have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the controversial ad.
However, it’s worth noting that this is not the first time DeSantis’ campaign has been accused of leveraging AI technology against Trump’s campaign. In the past month, one of DeSantis’ ads depicted fabricated images of Trump alongside Anthony Fauci, the former White House medical adviser who emerged as the prominent face of the US government’s COVID-19 response.
As this story unfolds, it is essential to consider multiple perspectives and opinions regarding the use of AI-generated voices in political advertisements. The clash between DeSantis and Trump’s campaigns highlights the intensity and competition within the Republican primary race. The controversy surrounding the AI-generated voice serves as a reminder of how technology continues to significantly impact political campaigning and advertising strategies.
In conclusion, the employment of AI to simulate Donald Trump’s voice in a political attack ad has ignited a heated debate. With the Iowa caucuses looming, the fallout from this controversy may have far-reaching implications for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ presidential ambitions and the political landscape as a whole. As the race for the Republican nomination intensifies, it remains to be seen whether the use of AI-generated voices will become a prevalent and accepted practice in political campaigning.
