United States: $137 Million Spent on Political Ads Using AI

More than 137 million dollars have been spent on political advertisements using artificial intelligence (AI) during the 2026 U.S. midterm election campaign, highlighting how this technology is increasingly permeating political campaigns and electoral competition.

A report released by the research organization Wesleyan Media Project stated that 220 political advertisements using AI were identified, which were aired in 34 U.S. states.

These advertisements consisted of visuals, images, and voices created or altered using artificial intelligence technology.

The report also indicated that most of these advertisements did not clearly inform viewers that AI was used, with only 27 percent having a label indicating the use of that technology.

This has raised concerns about the transparency of political campaigns and voters' ability to distinguish between real and manipulated visuals.

Regarding who funded the advertisements, the report's data indicated that candidates and Republican supporting groups were involved in the majority of the identified AI advertisements.

It was reported that these groups funded 81 percent of the registered advertisements, while Democrats accounted for 12 percent, with the remainder belonging to other groups.

The use of AI in politics is intensifying debates about the impact technology may have on elections, especially when creating fake visuals or voices that appear real.