Jessica Bichler deepfake video — Sep 2026

North Carolina state Senate candidate Jessica Bichler recently found herself the subject of an AI-generated campaign advertisement produced by her opponent, Republican incumbent state Sen. Michael Lee. The incident highlights the growing use of synthetic media in political campaigning, where candidates are increasingly utilizing AI to create satirical or unflattering depictions of their rivals.

What happened

The ad featured an AI-generated version of Bichler, who owns a yoga studio, contorting her body into bizarre, non-human shapes while presenting claims regarding her political stances on policing and healthcare. Although the advertisement included a disclaimer stating that it used AI, the realistic appearance of the video caused confusion among some of Bichler's supporters, who questioned whether she had consented to participate in the filming or if the opponent had gained access to her studio space.

Bichler noted that the physical distortions were the primary indicator that the footage was not authentic. While she sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Lee campaign, the objection focused on the misrepresentation of her policy positions rather than the use of the technology itself. In response, the Lee campaign released a revised version of the ad with a larger AI disclaimer, maintaining that the content was intended as parody.

Experts note that this is part of a broader trend in the 2026 election cycle. The Wesleyan Media Project identified at least 164 political advertisements produced or enhanced by AI nationwide this year. While many analysts suggest that fears of widespread, deceptive deepfakes have not fully materialized, the technology is increasingly serving as a modern, digital evolution of the traditional political cartoon. Despite the prevalence of these tools, Bichler has stated she does not intend to use AI in her own campaign, preferring to rely on what she describes as facts and reality.