AI-generated endorsement depicting late activist…

Congressional candidate Nathan Berning has sparked outrage in Hawaii after his campaign released an ad featuring an AI-generated endorsement from the late Native Hawaiian activist and professor Haunani-Kay Trask. The 30-second spot utilized synthetic voice and image technology to depict Trask, who passed away in 2021, supporting Berning’s campaign.

What happened

The campaign ad utilized AI to synthesize both the likeness and the voice of Haunani-Kay Trask. Initially, Berning claimed to Hawaii Public Radio that he was unfamiliar with Trask and believed the image used was a model. This statement was later proven false, as the visual was derived from a well-known photograph of the activist.

Beyond the unauthorized use of Trask’s identity, the ad included graphic imagery of a fetus to promote a specific stance on abortion. Mililani Trask, the sister of the late activist, characterized the campaign's actions as a violation and a perpetration of fraud against voters, while noting the distress caused to the family.

State Representative Scot Matayoshi noted that the incident may trigger legal action under Act 247, a new state law designed to address the misuse of an individual's image through AI. While Berning has since admitted that the video was AI-generated and stated he is reworking the advertisement, the incident has highlighted growing concerns regarding the use of synthetic media in political campaigning. Berning, who secured a spot on the general election ballot after the primary, received criticism for the ad's content, which aligns with tactics used by a PAC organized by anti-abortion activist Randall Terry. Local officials have expressed concern over the difficulty of regulating such content due to federal laws that restrict television stations from censoring congressional campaign advertisements.