New AI campaign video tests Michigan’s political ad laws - 9and10News.com

In June 2026, a political campaign advertisement featuring AI-generated imagery of prominent Democrats sparked a debate regarding the efficacy of Michigan's state regulations on synthetic media. The video, released by Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Aric Nesbitt, depicts political figures in fictional scenarios and speech that never occurred.

What happened

The advertisement features AI-generated content depicting Sen. Nesbitt driving a tractor toward Governor Gretchen Whitmer, ending with the text "justice is coming." Because the video shows politicians saying things they have not said publicly, it falls under the scope of Michigan's 2023 regulations concerning AI in political advertising.

To comply with state law, which mandates that materially deceptive media distributed within 90 days of an election must be clearly labeled, the ad includes a persistent disclaimer stating the content was created by artificial intelligence. It further concludes with a message explicitly noting that the video has been manipulated by technical means and depicts conduct that did not occur.

Legislators and local political figures remain divided on the impact of such content. Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, who introduced the state's AI policies, expressed concern that the ad carries a "scary, threatening tone" that could contribute to the intimidation of public officials. Conversely, Sen. Nesbitt characterized the video as a "parody video" and argued that voters are more focused on policy than the medium used for political messaging. Meanwhile, some analysts suggest that while the required disclosures may mitigate the risk of voters being misled, the broader concern remains that AI technology amplifies the capacity for the general public to disseminate false information and misinformation through bots and synthetic content.