Story perspectives

AI Text Bots Drive Campaigns, Spark Ethics, Disclosure Rules

7/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. political campaigns are deploying AI-powered text-message bots for voter conversations.
Marty Santalucia said the bots have sent 2.5 million texts and sparked 20,000-30,000 conversations this year.
Justice and other leaders warned that generative AI use is unethical and can spread false information.
North Dakota and California require the first text to disclose a virtual assistant.
A Pew survey found Democrats less confident than Republicans that the government can regulate AI.

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Story summary

U.S. political campaigns are deploying AI-powered text-message bots for voter conversations.
Marty Santalucia said the bots have sent 2.5 million texts and sparked 20,000-30,000 conversations this year.
Justice and other leaders warned that generative AI use is unethical and can spread false information.
North Dakota and California require the first text to disclose a virtual assistant.
A Pew survey found Democrats less confident than Republicans that the government can regulate AI.