AI-Generated Avatar of Candidate Stars in Ads for New Jersey Congressional Race

A new political action committee is apparently using an artificially generated avatar of a New Jersey congressional candidate in a series of campaign ads.Voice of the Electorate, also known as VOTE, has produced four “belief-based ads” supporting Dr. Brad Cohen’s primary campaign in which an AI digital twin of the candidate appears to be doing the talking. The ads may be a way around federal election rules that allow super PACs to receive unlimited contributions but requires them to remain independent and not coordinate any activities with a campaign.The ads include AI-generated imagery and includes what appears to be both real and deepfake footage of Dr. Cohen, the political site New Jersey Globe reported.One ad features the AI version of Dr. Cohen saying, “You need to solve people’s problems. You need to understand where they’re coming from, and what the stresses are in their lives.” The ad also features what appears to be an AI voiceover.VOTE says it partnered with a group called Don’t Hate Debate TV — billed as an AI-driven news channel — and the marketing company The Heart Monitors to produce the ads. A disclaimer says the ads were not authorized by any candidate or campaign. “Portions of this advertisement have been generated by artificial intelligence,” the disclaimer states.In a May 11 Federal Election Commission filing, the PAC reported spending $41,000 on behalf of Dr. Cohen. Nearly $35,000 of that money was spent on television ads and the rest on digital ads.VOTE, which lists a midtown Manhattan address, does not list any leadership on its website. The site features the ads promoting Dr. Cohen’s campaign and greets visitors with the message: “We’ve spent the past 40 years uncovering how people’s beliefs drive their behaviors, building companies, teaching at Princeton, writing, and helping some of the world’s most recognized brands win in fiercely competitive markets.”“Now, we are bringing that same proven discipline to the fight for our democracy,” the message goes on to say.A spokesman for Dr. Cohen told the Globe that the campaign had no knowledge of the PAC.Dr. Cohen, the mayor of East Brunswick, is battling 12 other candidates in a June 2 primary election to replace outgoing Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. The latest election filings show Dr. Cohen’s campaign raised nearly $425,000 in the first quarter, second to Dr. Adam Hamawy, who has raised more than $1 million, according to a new filing.Support for Israel has become an issue in the campaign. Ms. Watson Coleman has urged voters not to support Dr. Cohen, the only Jew in the election, over his support of Israel and accuses him of being a “hardline” supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Dr. Cohen told the Jewish News Syndicate that he does not agree with everything Mr. Netanyahu does and he supports a two-state solution.Dr. Hamawy has accused Israel of “genocide.” Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar have endorsed him and a pro-Palestinian super PAC, American Priorities says it is spending up to $2 million to back Dr. Hamawy in the election.

AI-Generated Avatar of Candidate Stars in Ads for New Jersey Congressional Race

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