Campaign Code-Breakers: Spotting AI in the Race for Mayor

​Campaign Code-Breakers:
Spotting AI in the Race for Mayor

By Shelby Ward

It’s election season in Fairview City!

​The race between Artie Official & Pat Pending is heating up!

The secret? Both campaigns are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their efforts to win the hearts and votes of the citizens!

Are they using AI as a helpful tool or a deceptive trick?

It is YOUR job to decide!

Your Detective Toolkit

The Three Categories of AI Use

• Manipulative (The Puppet Master): AI that creates fake "people" or "feelings" to trick voters

• Helpful (The Assistant): AI that saves time or makes information more clear

• Misleading (The Illusionist): AI that hides the truth or changes reality

The Policy Summary

Artie Official releases a 50-page climate plan. They use AI to create a 1-minute "Easy Read" summary and a Spanish translation.

Open Ended

Which AI category does "The Policy Summary" fall into? Why?

Case File #2 — The Ghost Crowd

Pat Pending posts a photo of a rally. AI was used to add 200 extra people and remove "Pat is a Loser" signs from the background.

Open Ended

Which AI category does The Ghost Crowd fall into? Why?

The Neighbors Next Door

A series of video clips appear on TikTok. Five different "local residents" praise Candidate A. Investigation shows these people don't exist—they are AI-generated avatars with scripted voices.

Open Ended

Which AI category does The Neighbors Next Door fall into? Why?

Open Ended

The Fairview City Council has tasked you with creating a list of rules that candidates must follow when utilizing AI in their campaigns. What are 3 rules that you would include on your list?

Open Ended

Why is it important that candidates and other public figures have rules when using AI?

Open Ended

If you were tasked with creating AI Rules for your school for students, what would you include?