Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
First Amendment LLC is sending mailers against Democratic governor candidate David Crowley that were generated by artificial intelligence, or AI.
First Amendment LLC, a Republican dark money group based in Virginia, is mailing fliers to Wisconsin voters using what appears to be AI-generated photos of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley.
Wisconsin law requires campaigns and political groups to disclose if AI is used to generate audio or video used in paid advertisements.
A mailer from GOP-group First Amendment LLC shows what appears to be an AI-generated image of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley next to flames.
A mailer from GOP-group First Amendment LLC shows an AI-generated image of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley dressed as a king on a throne.
An AI chatbot funded by Tech for Campaigns, a digital marketing group for Democratic candidates, is subtly encouraging voters to vote for Democrats in Wisconsin’s upcoming election.
State Government and Politics Reporter
First Amendment LLC is sending mailers against Democratic governor candidate David Crowley that were generated by artificial intelligence, or AI.
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Some Madisonians recently opened their mailboxes to find a flier with an image of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley next to flames, with a message calling his tenure as Milwaukee County executive a “dumpster fire.”
But the image of Crowley looks off, so much that it doesn’t look like the actual candidate.
The flier was created and sent by First Amendment LLC, a Virginia-based Republican dark money group that has spent roughly $13 million in Wisconsin races this fall.
On the back of the flier is a disclaimer: “This content is generated by AI.”
This is just one example of the way AI, or artificial intelligence, has seeped into Wisconsin campaigns this fall. Political groups are using AI to shape messaging about the election, politicians are using bots to create deepfakes of their opponents, and at the same time, candidates are trying to pitch their plans for regulating the technology fueling it all.
A mailer from GOP-group First Amendment LLC shows what appears to be an AI-generated image of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley next to flames.
AI is showing up in politics in many ways. Campaigns and political action committees across the country are using it to create fake videos and ads of their competitors. President Donald Trump has used the technology to make social media posts. And in Wisconsin, Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden has been using AI to create false images known as deepfakes of his Democratic opponent, Rebecca Cooke, prompting a legal response from Cooke.
Other political groups are using the technology to shape messaging and sway voters.
One Democratic-affiliated group has launched a chatbot to inform Wisconsin voters about what’s on their Nov. 3 ballot. The chatbot has shown up in social media ads from Wisconsin Votes, which is described on its Facebook page as a nonprofit and a group of volunteers “working to make sure every person in Wisconsin can vote safely, and are here to help you through the process.”
A link to Wisconsin Votes’ website listed on its Facebook page does not work, and an email sent to the address listed on its page bounced back. The Cap Times tried to message the group on Facebook as well but did not receive a response.
The chatbot says it’s paid for by Tech for Campaigns, a digital marketing company that supports Democratic candidates, and states it is not affiliated with any candidate or campaign. Tech for Campaigns did not respond to a request for more information.
An AI chatbot funded by Tech for Campaigns, a digital marketing group for Democratic candidates, is subtly encouraging voters to vote for Democrats in Wisconsin’s upcoming election.
A Cap Times review of the chatbot shows it encourages users to support Democratic candidates. In the review, the Cap Times asked the chatbot about issues ranging from data centers to healthcare, abortion, education, affordability and rent. The chatbot listed platforms from both Crowley and Republican candidate Tom Tiffany but always ended with a positive message about Crowley.
“If you or people you know have felt school budget squeezes, Crowley’s plan goes straight at it,” the bot said in response to a question about school funding.
“Gas is common ground. The difference is that Crowley’s plan covers more of the monthly bills, like childcare and utilities,” it said in response to a question about affordability.
“If you want clear legal guarantees on abortion and a public coverage option, Crowley’s plan delivers both,” it said in response to a question about healthcare.
The chatbot frequently invites users to share what issues matter most to them, and has pre-prompted questions users can ask, or a search function where users can ask it any question.
When asked outright who to vote for, the chatbot promoted Democratic candidates including Crowley, Attorney General Josh Kaul and lieutenant governor candidate Sarah Godlewski. When asked if the user should vote for Tiffany, the chatbot said no, but painted some of the Republican candidate’s platform positively.
At the start, the chatbot asks the user if they know who they’re voting for.
When told that the user is voting for Tiffany, the chatbot says, “Got it, thanks for sharing.”
But when told the user is voting for Crowley, the chatbot responds, “Nice, David Crowley it is.”
In voters’ mailboxes, another recent flier from First Amendment LLC showed again an image of Crowley that appears to be AI-generated, this time depicting him wearing a crown and sitting on a throne, with the title “KING OF TAXES” written above him.
The same group has also mailed out fliers claiming Crowley is not tough enough on hyperscale data centers, which often power the same kind of AI technology used to create the mailers.
A mailer from GOP-group First Amendment LLC shows an AI-generated image of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley dressed as a king on a throne.
The mailers state they are not affiliated with any candidate or campaign. First Amendment LLC did not respond to a request for comment.
Materials like these mailers or the deepfakes appearing on social media are “basically unregulated,” according to Mike Wagner, the director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A 2024 Wisconsin state law requires candidates and political groups to disclose if AI is used to create audio or video in paid campaign materials, but state lawmakers have not adopted other regulations on AI used by campaigns on items like print advertising or on social media.
While both sides appear to be using AI in their campaign materials, a New York Times analysis found that Republicans are turning to the technology more often, and that roughly $137 million in AI-generated ads have hit airwaves nationwide this election cycle.
The Cap Times reached out to both Democratic and Republican state parties to learn more about how their organizations are using AI. A spokesperson for the Republican Party of Wisconsin did not respond to the request for an interview or a statement. A spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said Chair Devin Remiker was not available for an interview and instead sent a statement.
“Political organizations have always had to evolve to changes in technology and media, and Democrats are committed to making sure we continue to use new technology ethically and responsibly,” Remiker said.
The rise in AI used in elections raises new questions about voter influence, according to UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky. The trend particularly raises questions about AI literacy and how much voters are able to discern between what’s real and neutral, he said, especially when AI is used by outside political groups with mysterious names and hard-to-track funding.
Wisconsin law requires campaigns and political groups to disclose if AI is used to generate audio or video used in paid advertisements.
“It can already be difficult for voters to assess negative campaign advertisements because oftentimes the claims are out of context or they don’t tell the whole story, and AI just adds more complications to what was already a challenging task for most voters, which is critically evaluating the information they’re getting during the campaign,” Chergosky said. “So I kind of view this as a new version of an old problem.”
Wagner said voters might not view AI content as critically as they do information they hear directly from a candidate or campaign, because, he said, many people incorrectly view AI as unbiased.
And as artificial intelligence becomes more widespread, this becomes more of a risk.
Especially in a battleground state like Wisconsin, Wagner said, small influences — like a chatbot’s subtle positive messages about a candidate — could have cumulative effects on an election over time.
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“There’s a never-ending supply of the ability to share stuff that isn’t just false, but is bizarre, that is emotionally engaging and memorable to the point where it may not be that when you see the ad itself, or you see the post itself, that at that second it changes your attitude. But if the balance of your diet is more of this garbage, it’s harder to develop an attitude that is likely to be a well-informed attitude,” Wagner said.
“It would be way better for our democracy if our attention was focused on real things candidates were saying and doing, and not stuff that was made up,” he said.
Neither Crowley nor Tiffany’s campaigns answered a question from the Cap Times about specific ideas they have for regulating AI used in elections, but last week they both announced plans to regulate the technology more broadly in Wisconsin.
Crowley’s 11-pronged plan would require tech and social media companies to put in guardrails for kids, including prohibiting anyone under 13 from using AI chatbots, ending addictive scrolling features and blocking unknown messages. He would also seek to increase the penalty for people who create or share AI-generated sexual images of children.
Additionally, Crowley wants to prohibit tech companies from using users’ personal data for targeted ads, penalize them for incidents of scam or fraudulent advertising and make it easier for users to report scams and for law enforcement to investigate and enforce these laws.
First Amendment LLC, a Republican dark money group based in Virginia, is mailing fliers to Wisconsin voters using what appears to be AI-generated photos of Democratic governor candidate David Crowley.
“Every Wisconsinite should be concerned about the rise of deepfakes and AI in our politics, and voters deserve to know what they’re seeing is real,” said Alexandra Gross, a campaign spokesperson for Crowley. “That’s exactly why David launched his plan (last week) to rein in Big Tech and put real guardrails on AI, because whether it’s a fake campaign video on social media, a scam targeting a grandparent, or a chatbot targeting our kids, Wisconsin families deserve protection from tech that’s built to deceive them.”
Tiffany’s campaign did not provide a comment on AI use in the election, but his campaign laid out his AI regulation plan in response to Crowley’s proposal last week.
“We need commonsense guardrails that protect children and seniors, safeguard personal privacy, and prevent sensitive data from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries,” Tiffany said.
Tiffany also wants to put guardrails in place for AI chatbots and protect children from sexually explicit material. He also supports age requirements for apps and wants to give parents more control over their kids’ online access.
Olivia Herken is the state government and politics reporter for the Cap Times. Olivia writes about the outcomes of policymaking, such as the effectiveness of state government services, as well as state and federal elections. Email story ideas and tips to oherken@captimes.com.
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State Government and Politics Reporter
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