An AI-generated attack ad from Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton depicts Gov. Gavin Newsom operating a machine that selects Xavier Becerra as his successor, carrying a required disclaimer that it was made with artificial intelligence. It's one of a growing wave of AI campaign ads nationally, including deepfakes of Rep. Thomas Massie and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, prompting Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Ro Khanna to reintroduce the federal AI Ads Act targeting fraudulent AI content in federal races.
California already requires AI disclosure in campaign ads and has passed deepfake laws, but a broader law requiring platforms to restrict AI political content was struck down by a federal judge for conflicting with the Communications Decency Act. President Trump's executive order established a task force to challenge state AI regulations he says impede innovation, further complicating California's efforts.
Hilton's campaign says it supports transparency over outright bans, arguing anonymous, undisclosed AI content is the bigger threat, while critics like a UCLA professor warn the technology risks eroding any shared basis for trusting what people see. State Assemblymember Marc Berman, whose law was struck down, says the real fix needs to come from federal legislation.
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