Editor’s note: The Texas Tribune does not use AI to produce news content. Our policy forbids the publication of news photos or videos that are created or altered using generative AI. When AI-generated images are themselves the subject of a story, we label them clearly with both a watermark and a caption.
Texas voters heading to the polls for the 2026 primary are encountering a campaign trail shaped by artificial intelligence, as candidates use the technology to mock opponents and dramatize political attacks.
A bill in the Texas Legislature last year that would have required disclosures in political ads that use AI or that substantially alter real images passed the Texas House but stalled in the Senate and never became law. That means AI in political advertising remains a free-for-all as the technology is rapidly becoming more accessible and realistic. Nationwide, the use of AI in campaigns ranges from animated satire to sophisticated deepfakes, testing both the limits of political speech and the ability of voters to discern fact from digital fiction.
