Political campaigns have poured $137 million on AI-made ads ahead of a crucial midterm—after spending virtually nothing last election cycle

Just two years ago, ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the use of AI in political ads was nearly unheard of. Today, it’s a nine-figure budget line. A new report from the Wesleyan University-based research group Wesleyan Media Project found more than $137 million in spending on 220 campaign videos made at least partly with AI through Oct. 11, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. By comparison, the group detected less than $50,000 in spending on AI-generated ads in 2024 campaigns.

Source: Fortune Crypto