Republicans use deepfake video of Chuck Schumer in new attack ad

US Republicans Unleash Dystopian Deepfake Ad Targeting Schumer

A chilling new tactic has been employed by US Republican campaign strategists, who have released an artificially generated video featuring Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a disquieting ad campaign. The disturbingly realistic clip, posted to the Senate Republicans' social media account, shows Schumer repeating a phrase about daily improvement during the ongoing government shutdown. A small disclaimer acknowledges its AI-generated origins, but this does not seem to have alleviated concerns among observers.

The video features Schumer's manufactured likeness speaking in robotic tones, with an eerie sense of detachment from reality. This stark contrast highlights the growing unease surrounding deepfake technology and its increasingly pervasive presence in politics. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has crossed a disturbing threshold by employing AI-generated imagery to amplify a pre-existing quote about the shutdown strategy.

Critics argue that the ad blurs the lines between fact and fiction, casting doubt on Schumer's authenticity. While the quote itself is real and previously reported in Punchbowl News, the NRSC chose to create a synthetic video of Schumer speaking rather than simply quoting his words. This calculated move has sparked bewilderment among those who watched the ad online.

"Schumer thinks playing with Americans' livelihoods is just a game," an unnamed narrator says over the deepfake imagery in the advertisement. The NRSC also accuses Democrats of "loving" the political standoff, further escalating tensions between the parties.

The NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez has taken to defending her organization's use of AI-generated content by suggesting that adaptation is key to success. Her response, however, may not alleviate concerns about the exploitation of this technology in politics.

This latest development follows recent instances of Republican campaign strategists leveraging deepfake technology for their own gain. In 2023, the Republican National Committee released an AI-generated ad featuring an apocalyptic future under a hypothetical Biden presidency. The video was accompanied by a disclaimer acknowledging its AI-generated imagery, but this may not have mitigated concerns about its impact.

The increasing use of deepfakes in politics poses significant challenges for fact-checking and the reliability of information. As these technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial that platforms take steps to prevent their misuse and that voters remain vigilant in evaluating the authenticity of advertisements during election seasons.

man i'm still confused about this deepfake ad thing like what's next? they'll just make a fake video of joe biden saying he's running for president again but seriously though, it's getting creepy how easily these AI-generated videos can be made to look super realistic. i mean, who needs the truth when you can have a convincing fake? the fact that they're using this tech to target senator schumer's words is just plain shady and what really gets me is that people are actually buying into it like we need another layer of distrust in politics. can't we just stick to actual facts for once?

This new tactic by Republicans is super unsettling . Like, who thought it was a good idea to use deepfake tech to manipulate people's perceptions? It's already hard enough trying to keep up with what's real and what's fake on the internet... this takes it to a whole other level . And now they're using AI-generated vids of Schumer in ads . That's just creepy . Can't we just focus on the issues at hand instead of playing with fire ?

Man this deepfake ad thing is getting outta hand . Like, I get it politicians want to stir up drama but a video that makes Schumer sound like he's reading from a script? That's just messed up . And don't even get me started on the disclaimer, yeah right, who believes that . It's all about manipulating people's emotions and perceptions to sway opinions. Newsflash: it's not gonna work .

And can we talk about how this is a slippery slope? Next thing you know they'll be using these AI-generated vids in real elections... I mean what's the point of even having facts if you can just create your own reality? . The fact-checking community needs to step up their game and platforms need to crack down on this kind of stuff before it gets out of hand .

I'm getting major vibes from this AI-generated video of Schumer... it's like something straight outta a sci-fi movie ! I mean, I get where the Republicans are coming from with trying to sway public opinion, but using deepfakes to blur the lines between fact and fiction? That's just plain unsettling . And can we talk about how easy it is for these ads to go viral online? It's like they're designed to spread quickly and manipulate people's perceptions . The question is, where do we draw the line between creative advertising and outright manipulation? . I think platforms need to step up their fact-checking game ASAP .

Ugh I'm literally shaking right now thinking about this deepfake ad targeting Schumer... it's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie ! The fact that they can create such realistic AI-generated videos is just mind-blowing, but also super unsettling . It's not just the tech itself, it's what it says about our society and how desperate politicians are to manipulate public opinion. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna see deepfakes of our own families and friends being used to sway us towards a particular party or agenda?!

And can we talk about the disclaimer for a second? "Acknowledges its AI-generated origins" is basically just a cop-out . If they're so concerned about people getting confused, why not take it a step further and include some context about the ad being created with AI? It's not like this would've changed anyone's mind, but still... .

The thing that really gets me is how this technology can be used to distort reality and make people question what's real and what's not. I mean, Schumer did say those words about daily improvement during the shutdown, but does that make him a robot or something?! It's all just getting so confusing...

I'm like, totally torn about this whole deepfake ad thing... I mean, on one hand, using AI-generated content in politics can be super misleading and erode trust in institutions, you know? Like, who's to say what's real and what's not? And Schumer's got a point that this is some pretty messed up stuff...

BUT, at the same time, I think the NRSC has kinda missed the boat by being all cagey about it. I mean, if they're gonna use deepfakes, shouldn't they just own it and say "Hey, we used AI-generated content in our ad"? Like, what's the harm in that? And if Schumer's got a problem with it, maybe he should've spoken out sooner...

And can we talk about how ridiculous the NRSC's communications director sounds when she says adaptation is key to success? Like, no, it's not just about adapting to new tech, it's about being honest and transparent with voters...

AI-generated ads are getting creepy fast... like, how many times do we need to see Schumer's face being used for a quote? Can't they just be honest and not try to manipulate the narrative?

I dont get why republicans do this they think its funny or something? deepfakes are super realistic now, like who can even tell whats real and whats not anymore . its like they're trying to gaslight people into doubting Schumer's words. and then they have the nerve to say democrats are loving the shutdown? thats just plain mean . and what really bothers me is that platforms arent doing enough to stop this, its like theyre just letting it slide . we need better fact-checking and more accountability for these kinds of ads. otherwise, its just gonna get worse

I'm getting major creep vibes from this US Republicans just dropped a deepfake ad featuring Chuck Schumer and I gotta say, it's like something straight outta The Matrix . They're blurring the lines between fact and fiction and making people question whether Schumer is even being himself anymore . It's like they're trying to create some kind of alternate reality where Schumer's words are fake, but his face isn't .

And what's next? Are they gonna start using holograms or somethin' ? I mean, I know politics can get pretty heated, but this is just getting outta hand . Can we please just stick to real people makin' real speeches without all the fancy AI wizardry ?

I'm low-key creeped out by this latest move from US Republicans They think using AI-generated deepfakes is a good idea? It's like, come on guys! You're already trying to win votes with misinformation & now you're resorting to making fake videos of people?! The fact that Schumer's likeness is speaking in robotic tones is straight up unsettling . And what's next? Gonna start making AI-generated ads featuring Trump or Biden?! This just shows how desperate they are to get ahead, and it's not worth sacrificing truth & authenticity for the sake of a win #DeepfakesInPolitics #FakeNews #ElectionIntegrityMatters