LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt reposts scathing AI-generated ad - The Guardian

A Los Angeles mayoral candidate reposted an AI-generated political advertisement that quickly went viral. The ad depicts a dystopian version of the city and criticizes current political figures.

What happened

The AI-generated video portrays Los Angeles as a bleak hellscape. It depicts the Hollywood sign engulfed in flames and California's political figures, including the current mayor, governor, and former vice-president, as uncaring rulers. The advertisement was created by a filmmaker and reposted on X by Spencer Pratt, a mayoral candidate. The video amassed millions of views and drew commentary from political experts, with some suggesting AI-generated ads could become commonplace due to their speed and cost-effectiveness. However, the ad's effectiveness in influencing voter turnout remains questionable.