New York Senator Chuck Schumer has become the latest target in a growing campaign to use deepfake technology in politics. A new attack ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee features an artificially generated video of Schumer, which was posted on social media and has caused widespread bewilderment online.
The ad, titled "Week 3 of the Schumer Shutdown," showcases a manipulated version of Schumer repeating the phrase "every day gets better for us" in reference to the ongoing government shutdown. However, it's worth noting that this quote is actually real - Schumer had previously stated on record that Democrats were preparing their healthcare-focused shutdown strategy well in advance.
The ad takes a different approach by using deepfake technology to create a synthetic video of Schumer speaking, despite acknowledging its artificial origins with a small disclaimer. The NRSC has been accused of exploiting the use of AI-generated content for political gain, particularly given that similar tactics have been employed by other Republicans in the past.
Just last week, former President Donald Trump posted his own deepfake video on social media, depicting Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries making false claims about immigration and voter fraud. The Republican National Committee has also used AI-generated content in its advertising efforts, including a 2023 ad that imagined an apocalyptic future if Biden wins re-election.
The use of deepfakes in politics raises serious concerns about the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. As AI technology continues to advance, it's likely that we'll see more instances of manipulated video and audio being used to sway public opinion. The question is, where will politicians draw the line between legitimate criticism and manipulation?
The ad, titled "Week 3 of the Schumer Shutdown," showcases a manipulated version of Schumer repeating the phrase "every day gets better for us" in reference to the ongoing government shutdown. However, it's worth noting that this quote is actually real - Schumer had previously stated on record that Democrats were preparing their healthcare-focused shutdown strategy well in advance.
The ad takes a different approach by using deepfake technology to create a synthetic video of Schumer speaking, despite acknowledging its artificial origins with a small disclaimer. The NRSC has been accused of exploiting the use of AI-generated content for political gain, particularly given that similar tactics have been employed by other Republicans in the past.
Just last week, former President Donald Trump posted his own deepfake video on social media, depicting Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries making false claims about immigration and voter fraud. The Republican National Committee has also used AI-generated content in its advertising efforts, including a 2023 ad that imagined an apocalyptic future if Biden wins re-election.
The use of deepfakes in politics raises serious concerns about the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. As AI technology continues to advance, it's likely that we'll see more instances of manipulated video and audio being used to sway public opinion. The question is, where will politicians draw the line between legitimate criticism and manipulation?
. It's like, I get it, they're trying to be funny or something, but can't we just have real conversations online for once? 
. And then I found out it's a deepfake and I'm just shook 
. It's like, how do you even create something that looks so real? 
. Like, come on guys, we should be able to trust what we see online without having to fact-check everything 
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. The government shutdown, the deepfake videos, it's all just so wild 
. I hope someone can figure out how to make our online conversations more trustworthy 
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. I mean, Schumer's got a right to be criticized for his policies, but can't we do that in a respectful way? 
? It's like, where's the line, you know? I'm all for free speech and stuff, but when it comes to manipulating public opinion, that's just wrong 
? And Biden got roasted with an AI-generated video too... it's getting ridiculous.
. We need to be more mindful of what we're seeing online and fact-check everything before sharing or believing it. It's not just Schumer that's being targeted here – politicians on both sides are using these tactics.
- these deepfake videos are getting crazy! and the fact that its getting used in politics is super concerning 
this reminds me of those times when u watch a vid on youtube and its all like "this is real" and then later ur like "wait whats going on wth?!" 
and who gets to share them online 
especially with these new techs coming out...its gonna be hard to keep track of what's real and what's not 
this whole thing is just so wild and i don't know what to think about it anymore 
Now it's politicians getting played by AI! It's wild. And the thing is, Schumer actually said that quote back in 2022... so who's the real victim here? The NRSC is just trying to get attention, but at what cost? 
, like he's getting roasted by the media and the Republicans without even having a chance to defend himself. I mean, can't we just see where they're coming from before jumping to conclusions? The NRSC is trying to stir up some drama with this deepfake ad, but at the end of the day, it's still Schumer's words that matter 
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. Let's keep things in perspective here and stop demonizing politicians for using technology to communicate with us 
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. It's like, we're already seeing a lot of misinformation online, but now we've got these AI-generated vids that can make it seem super real 
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. Maybe there could be laws around how AI-generated content is used in politics... or at least some guidelines on what's considered "fair game" and what's not 
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. Can't we all just agree to disagree without trying to manipulate each other's minds? 