Conservative radio host John Reid (R) on Tuesday shared a video of his not-so-authentic debate with Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D) where a seemingly AI-generated image of a moderator asks questions to Reid and the AI version of the Democrat, who appears on a display atop a lectern across from him in real life.
The bot takes from Hashmi’s “publicized policy positions, as mined from a variety of available sources, with AI used to replicate” her voice after the Democrat “refused” to debate him, the video notes.
The 40-minute, staged face-off sees Reid and the bot covering topics such as immigration, transgender rights, abortion, the economy and gun violence.
Reid, in a statement shared prior to releasing his bot debate, claimed there were “no rehearsals, no second takes and no advance prep beyond” his “own notes.”
“Virginians deserve to see a side-by-side contrast, and since my opponent won’t show up, I had to force the issue myself,” he said.
A spokesperson for Hashmi’s actual campaign, in a statement to several media outlets, called out Reid over his “failed use of deepfakes” and likened it to a “desperate move straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook.”
“While we appreciate that AI Ghazala did share her vision like her commitment to public education and reproductive rights — it’s pretty clear, Reid only cares about shoddy gimmicks and not governing,” the statement read.
“Maybe he should focus on voters instead of videos. And hasn’t he gotten in enough trouble online already?”
MAGA makes‘your mom’jokes.
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
On Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Virginia congratulated Hashmi on social media for being victorious in the “fake debate” before thanking Reid for sharing the state senator’s “winning message.”
