The long-anticipated showdown between former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is officially underway, with artificial intelligence right in the middle of the heated debate. Trump recently shared a video featuring a voice-cloning AI conversation, which was uploaded on a private Rumble account. The two-minute clip is yet another example of how AI is being utilized as a political tool to affect narratives or attack opponents.
The clip features a parody of DeSantis’ Twitter Spaces launch, featuring Elon Musk and various villains like Adolf Hitler and the devil, in addition to billionaires like George Soros and World Economic Forum Chair Klaus Schwab and former Vice President Dick Cheney. While it was designed to be humorous, it was a clear attempt to criticize DeSantis and his campaign.
AI-generated content has been rising in popularity over the past few months, particularly among politicians. The Republican National Committee released an ad in April attacking President Joe Biden, using AI-generated images. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s center-right National Party has been using AI to create stock images for their social media platforms. Trump himself shared a clip on May 11 that used voice-cloning AI—featuring CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper.
The rise of generative AI also raises concerns about its potential to mislead and manipulate voters when used for political gain. Just recently, a false photo of the Pentagon exploding—suspected to have been at least partially AI-generated—caused a ripple effect in the stock market.
AI has already had an impact on politics as we know it, and Trump and DeSantis’ 2020 showdown is yet another indication of how far this technology has come. As AI continues to develop and become more commonplace in the political arena, it is important to be aware of the potential for misuse. It is not only important for governments to act responsibly but for citizens to recognize when AI is being used to manipulate or deceive them.
