US campaigns embrace AI daily while Europe tightens rules

Key takeaway

• American political campaigns now use AI in nearly every workflow, with 87 percent of strategists employing it daily, but the two parties operate under different political constraints—Democrats face voter skepticism and internal resistance while Republicans encounter less pushback.

• Meanwhile, the EU is imposing strict transparency and labeling rules for AI in political advertising starting immediately, with deepfake-labeling requirements taking effect on August 2, 2026, creating a sharp contrast with the US approach.

3 Key Points

FAQ

What are the EU's new rules for AI in political advertising?

Since October 2025, political ads across the EU must be clearly labeled and disclose who paid for them, which election they target, and how much was spent. Political targeting requires explicit, separate consent from people involved, and sensitive data like political views or ethnic background cannot be used for profiling. Additionally, starting August 2, 2026, deepfakes and AI-generated or manipulated texts on topics of public interest must be clearly labeled in key cases.

How do Democrats and Republicans differ in their approach to campaign AI?

Democrats prefer nonprofit models and face significant internal pressure—polls show Democratic voters are more skeptical of AI, and progressive groups report angry emails about its use. Republicans face less internal pushback and lean more heavily on privately funded companies. Republican strategist Eric Wilson considers AI-generated videos of opponents acceptable if they reflect real statements, while the National Democratic Training Committee rejects such content because it undermines democratic discourse and voter trust.

Did German political parties use AI in their 2025 federal election campaign?

Yes, on a smaller scale than in the US. Parties used AI for writing text, editing images, analyzing data, and managing social media—the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia deployed an AI bot called "Conrad" to help draft press releases and social media posts. In December 2024, the CDU, CSU, SPD, Greens, FDP, and Left Party signed a fairness agreement pledging to clearly label AI-generated images, video, and audio, and commit to not using deepfake technology. The AfD and BSW did not sign.