Does Michigan allow AI in political ads? [oIJ5mt1Z0bM]
From a candidate fist fight to a sentient Statue of Liberty, AI-generated political ads are putting Michigan’s new deepfake law to the test. Michigan is one of at least 31 states to regulate political deepfakes or other forms of AI-assisted advertising. But two years into the new state law, the quickly improving technology has backers wondering if more can be done to help voters separate fact from fiction. “AI is doing a lot for improving research, for improving efficiencies … but it’s just moving so very rapidly that we have to protect from any bad actors, misuse or just using it recklessly,” sponsoring state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, told Bridge Michigan. Tsernoglou and state Rep. Matthew Bierlein, R-Vassar, were two of the driving forces behind Michigan’s AI deepfake law, which Whitmer signed in late 2023. The law allows AI use in political ads so long as backers disclose its use in the making of a video, graphic or audio message. Failure to do so could be a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $250 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law also bars distributing deceptive AI-generated material within 90 days of an election, as well as knowingly disseminating false information. Read the full story: #shorts