Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has issued a defiant response to Democrats angered by his use of artificial intelligence in campaign advertisements, stating that the party should "get a life" and vowing to continue the practice. The Nassau County executive's remarks come after the state Democratic Party chairman, Jay Jacobs, filed a complaint with the Board of Elections, alleging that Blakeman violated state law by failing to disclose the use of AI in some ads.
Blakeman, speaking at a campaign event in Flushing, Queens, asserted that the AI-generated ads are effective and that opponents are attempting to obstruct their use due to their impact. He suggested that Democrats' complaints stem from the effectiveness of the technology. "Everybody knows it’s AI, and it’s funny — so what’s your problem? Get a life," Blakeman stated.
The controversial ads often depict political opponents, including Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in exaggerated and satirical scenarios. One AI-generated video shows an AI version of Hochul appearing to engage in illegal activities, such as robbing a bank and gambling taxpayer funds with Mamdani. Other ads depict her interacting with purported drug dealers and receiving endorsements from individuals described as illegal migrants and lobbyists.
Jacobs, in his complaint to the Board of Elections, accused Blakeman's campaign of "distorting reality" and "misleading" voters by portraying Hochul as having said and done things that did not occur. He argued that the Blakeman campaign has used public funds for campaign activities that contravene election law and that such practices should not be permitted, especially when drawing on public matching funds. Jacobs also characterized Blakeman's stance as "very Trumpian."
While state law requires disclosure for political commercials that use AI to create "materially deceptive media," such as fabricated events or conversations, Blakeman's campaign has stated that many of his AI videos do include disclosures at the end. However, a review of the ads indicated that not all of them have consistently featured these disclosures.
The AI-generated videos are primarily produced by Walter Shub, an AI content creator hired by Blakeman earlier this year. Shub has stated that he crafts political satire intended for conservative and pro-Israel audiences. The specific amount the Blakeman campaign has spent on these AI advertisements remains undisclosed.