Did the Trump campaign use AI in an advertisement featuring Kamala Harris? | VERIFY

Introduction

In a recent campaign advertisement, former President Donald Trump highlighted statements made by Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to questions from viewers about the authenticity of the clips. Concerned about potential manipulation, many wondered if the clips featured in the ad were real or crafted using artificial intelligence (AI).

The advertisement prominently displays Harris attributing high costs of everyday goods, such as food, rent, and gas, to what she refers to as "bomics." This statement raised eyebrows, as it appeared to contradict Harris's previous messages. Viewers were particularly curious about the legitimacy of the clips and the possibility of using AI-generated content in political advertising.

To verify the authenticity of the clips, a rigorous analysis was conducted. Researchers traced the video clips back to their original events using reverse image searches. It was discovered that Harris was wearing two different outfits in the ad, confirming that the footage was sourced from two separate occasions: one from a campaign stop in Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 16, 2024, and another from a speech in Washington, D.C., on August 4, 2023.

The investigation revealed that the remarks made by Harris were indeed real, not generated by AI. However, the footage had been edited to create a misleading narrative, suggesting she was tying President Joe Biden's economic policies directly to rising costs.

Regarding the legality of using AI in political ads, it's important to note that, while AI was not employed in this specific advertisement, there are currently no federal regulations that prohibit the use of AI technologies in political advertising.

For more context, voters are reminded that the deadline to register for the upcoming November election is October 7th. To check your voter registration status, you can text the word "vote" to 512-459-9440 for further details.

Keywords

• Trump campaign
• Kamala Harris
• Advertisement
• AI
• Economic policies
• Political ads
• Legitimacy

FAQ

1. Were the video clips of Kamala Harris in the Trump campaign ad real? Yes, the video clips were real but spliced together from different speeches.

2. Did the Trump campaign use artificial intelligence in the ad? No, the clips were not generated using AI; however, they were edited to create a misleading impression.

3. Is it legal to use AI in political ads? Currently, there are no federal rules prohibiting the use of AI in political advertisements.

4. What statements did Kamala Harris make in the ad? In the ad, she discussed the rising costs of everyday goods, attributing them to economic policies.

5. When is the deadline to register to vote in the November election? The deadline to register to vote is October 7th.