Code refresh opponents air AI-generated ad showing woman with a ‘bacterial infection’ from the…

A political group opposing a rezoning initiative in Richmond aired an advertisement featuring a digitally generated person. The ad depicts the person developing a 'bacterial infection' after swimming in the James River.

What happened

The Richmond Civic League paid to air the ad, which showed a digitally-generated woman developing sores after swimming in the James River. In the ad, the woman says she swam in the James River in July 2025 and developed a bacterial infection due to raw sewage outflow. The digital file is watermarked as being generated by Google’s AI tools, and a computerized voice speaks over the Civic League logo, criticizing the city's rezoning plans. The head of the Civic League claimed "the incident in the James is a true story" but did not provide any evidence. He did not respond to questions about the use of AI.