Kathy Hochul camp calls Blakeman's AI campaign ads lying
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is defending AI-generated campaign ads that mimic Gov. Kathy Hochul's voice and image in New York's governor race, while a Hochul campaign spokesman calls the tactic "straight up lying." The dispute puts synthetic political advertising at the center of a high-stakes statewide contest ahead of November.
Key Takeaways
- Republican Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and candidate for New York governor, is defending AI-generated ads that appear to use Kathy Hochul's likeness.
- A Hochul campaign spokesman labeled the ads "straight up lying," and the campaign dubbed him Bruce "Fakeman."
- Blakeman calls the spots humorous political satire and says campaigns must "use every tool in the toolbox."
- Voters shown the ads offered mixed reactions, from calling them misleading to saying authenticity still matters.
- Separately, Hochul has pressed for tighter rules around AI infrastructure, including a statewide data center moratorium.
What sparked the fight over Kathy Hochul and AI ads?
According to ABC7 New York, controversy is growing over AI campaign ads in the New York governor's race. Blakeman's spots use voice and video that appear like Hochul, while critics say the messaging amounts to false advertising.
One example cited in the report criticizes Hochul over bail reform. Negative ads are routine in politics, but AI-generated likenesses raise sharper questions about whether voters can tell satire from a real statement by the governor.
How is Bruce Blakeman defending the AI ads?
"When you're running a campaign, especially in a state this large, you gotta use every tool in the toolbox," Blakeman said. He framed the ads as political satire, akin to late-night comics, and rejected labels like "AI slop."
"They should get a life. Comedy has been used in political campaigns, from the time of George Washington," he said. Political consultant Michael Dawidziak noted that the Supreme Court has repeatedly protected political speech.
ABC7 also noted that Hochul is the clear leader statewide, though not necessarily in Nassau County, and that Blakeman may have less campaign money, making cheaper AI ads an appealing option.
Why does Kathy Hochul's camp call the ads lying?
Hochul's campaign has expressed frustration and branded Blakeman "Fakeman." A campaign statement argued Team Hochul does not need AI ads to highlight claims about Blakeman jacking up property taxes on Long Islanders more than once, letting violent crime hit decade highs on his watch, or running an armed MAGA militia that undercuts local cops—saying "he did all that in real life."
Voters shown the ads by Eyewitness News were split. Kylie Berg called them misleading because they make people think candidates hold certain ideas. Marie Murray said the ads bother her but that "everybody else is doing it." Brett Topel said ads should be authentic. Come November, voters will decide for themselves.
Where else is Kathy Hochul drawing AI policy lines?
Beyond campaign messaging, Hochul has also moved on AI-related infrastructure. In an NBC News interview, she explained signing the country's first statewide moratorium on large data center permitting because tech giants are "flooding the zone" faster than states and localities can keep up.
That broader AI debate—and the fight over synthetic campaign ads—underscores why tools shaping politics and power are a live beat in Future Tech & AI Wonders. For now, the governor's race has become an early test of whether AI-generated likenesses are fair-game satire or, as Hochul's side argues, a form of lying to voters.