Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has condemned AI-generated videos targeting her and amplified by mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt during the city's mayoral campaign.
The conflict highlights the growing tension between campaign innovation and digital deception as artificial intelligence becomes a tool for political warfare. The use of these tools can distort public perception of city conditions and candidate identities.
During an interview on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 [2], Bass addressed the rise of synthetic media in the race. She said, "These AI ads are taking on a violent trend" [1]. The mayor's comments followed the spread of AI-generated content on social media, some of which was amplified by Pratt.
Pratt has utilized AI-generated advertisements to promote his own candidacy. These videos often depict Los Angeles as a dystopian landscape to frame his platform [1]. The strategy has gained significant traction, with some AI videos garnering several million views online [4].
While the videos are intended to promote Pratt's campaign, they have also been used to target Bass [1]. This dual use of the technology has sparked a broader debate over the influence of AI in local politics. CBS News said the video featuring Pratt has sparked a debate over the role of technology in politics [3].
Critics of the strategy suggest that the reliance on synthetic media may be a substitute for traditional policy debate. The Vanity Fair editorial team said Pratt needed to show that he was capable of more than farming outrage online [3].
Bass continues to push back against the use of these tools, arguing that the trend creates a dangerous environment for political discourse in the U.S. city.
“"These AI ads are taking on a violent trend."”
The clash between Bass and Pratt illustrates a shift in local electioneering where synthetic media is used not just for efficiency, but for psychological framing. By depicting a city as dystopian through AI, candidates can create an emotional urgency that bypasses traditional policy debate, potentially lowering the threshold for what constitutes acceptable campaign conduct in municipal races.
