A New Orleans magician revealed that a Democratic consultant hired him to create audio for what authorities suspect is the first known attempt to use artificial intelligence to interfere with a U.S. election. The magician, Paul Carpenter, disclosed that he was commissioned by the consultant to mimic President Joe Biden's voice for robocalls aimed at dissuading people from voting in New Hampshire's primary.
New Hampshire officials deemed the recorded message, disseminated to thousands of voters shortly before the Jan. 23 election, as a violation of the state's voter suppression laws. Cease-and-desist orders were issued to two Texas companies believed to be involved. The connection to the Louisiana magician was initially reported by NBC News.
The Attorney General's office declined to comment on whether Carpenter or the consultant are under investigation, stating that the inquiry is ongoing. The presidential campaign of Dean Phillips, for whom the consultant worked, disavowed the calls and actions, clarifying that the consultant was hired to assist in ballot access in New York and Pennsylvania.
Carpenter mentioned that he met the consultant through a mutual contact and that they discussed using AI to produce audio while residing in the same New Orleans residence. Screenshots revealed text messages from the consultant providing a script and a payment of $150 made to Carpenter days before the primary.
Following the revelation of the fake Biden robocall, the consultant allegedly instructed Carpenter to delete the script and emails, which Carpenter claims to have done. The call, resembling Biden's voice and containing misinformation about voting eligibility, was sent to thousands of voters, falsely appearing to originate from a former state Democratic Party chair's personal cellphone number.
President Biden, who was a write-in candidate in the primary, emerged victorious despite not being on the ballot due to South Carolina's primary position. Carpenter, contemplating legal action against the consultant, expressed unawareness of the consultant's involvement with another presidential campaign.
