Artificial intelligence has far-reaching applications for how we interact with the world.
The technology is also being used to sling mud in a suburban Birmingham congressional race.
Ken McFeeters, an insurance agency owner and former president of the Mid-Alabama Republican Club running against Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District, used an AI version of Donald Trump to attack the congressman for reportedly calling the then-presidential candidate a “megalomaniac” in 2015.
In a video McFeeters posted to Rumble, he has a “Zoom call” with the former president that uses AI to recreate Trump’s voice. Video of Trump was superimposed to give the effect that Trump was talking to McFeeters.
“I know who you are, Ken. We need an intelligent, principled, good-looking man like you in Congress,” the AI Trump says after McFeeters begins the faux video call.
“I had to tell you that Gary Palmer is telling everyone that you endorsed him, sir. He’s a Never Trumper.. He called you a megalomaniac, sir, and then he went on to say that you’d be a horrible president. It’s in the paper, sir,” McFeeters says.
The AI Trump then goes on to attack Palmer.
“Wow, Palmer’s a weasel. Nobody bashes the Trumpmeister and then asks for my endorsement and then tells everyone we are pals. I never liked that low-energy, boring, Deep State puppet,” the AI Trump says. “I’m glad you informed me about Deep State Palmer. What he is doing is lowdown and dirty, snitch-like. We call Palmer ‘Old Creepy Eyes,’ up here [in Washington, D.C.]. Palmer just creeps people out, Ken. Only a lying politician would do what he is doing with my endorsement.”
Palmer called the video “a desperate attempt by a candidate that has nothing to offer in this race.
“Even the use of artificial intelligence doesn’t make him relevant,” Palmer’s camapaign said of McFeeters.
“President Trump has become the greatest President in our lifetime. Both President Trump and Congressman Palmer have a proven record of working together to advance the America First agenda, which is why President Trump has endorsed Gary Palmer as the only candidate in this race who can help him in his second term to Make America Great Again.”
In the Rumble video, McFeeters tells the AI Trump he beleives “people are waking up to the fact that he is a liar and he takes credit for things he didn’t do.”
The AI Trump ends the call by saying “I’m glad Ken crushed the little backstabbing worm, and call me any time. When you win, we are going to do great things together, fantastic things, huge things, Ken. Talk later.”
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
