Michigan PAC accused of using undisclosed AI in attack ad

A political action committee running attack ads in Michigan's 7th Congressional District race faces allegations it used artificial intelligence to create campaign content without proper disclosure, according to a complaint filed with state election officials.

Michigan Values PAC, which registered with the Federal Election Commission in May, spent $365,000 on cable advertising in the Lansing, Detroit, and Flint markets. The ads target former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, a Democratic candidate for Congress, criticizing her appointment as "Donald Trump's handpicked ambassador."

A Lansing resident identified as a Brink supporter filed a campaign finance complaint alleging the PAC used AI to manipulate video footage without the disclosure required under Michigan law. The complaint specifically points to footage that appears to show Donald Trump holding a portfolio with Brink's image—an event the complainant says never occurred and was generated artificially.

The ad and detection efforts

The advertisement incorporates video from Brink's 2019 Senate confirmation hearing for her nomination as ambassador to the Slovak Republic. While it includes standard disclaimers stating it was paid for by Michigan Values PAC and not authorized by any candidate, it contains no AI disclosure.

Michigan Advance, which first reported the story, analyzed the ad using two AI detection tools. Results were inconclusive: one tool suggested the video was likely human-generated, while another found no strong indicators of AI generation.

Campaign connections and responses

Brink's campaign attempted to link Michigan Values PAC to Vote Vets, a separate political action committee that has committed $750,000 to support Matt Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL and one of Brink's Democratic primary opponents. Both PACs reportedly purchased advertising through the same media buyer.

"Matt Maasdam and his out-of-state, dark money allies are attacking me with AI deepfakes that mislead voters about my proven record standing up to Trump," Brink said in a statement.

Maasdam's campaign responded by highlighting his endorsement from End Citizens United and his pledge to reject corporate PAC money. Spokesperson Emma Grundhauser noted that Brink had declined to make similar commitments.

Attempts to reach Michigan Values PAC for comment were unsuccessful. The PAC's listed contact information directed to MBA Consulting, a Washington, D.C.-based firm providing compliance services for political campaigns. Vote Vets also did not respond to inquiries about potential ties to Michigan Values PAC.

Why it matters

This complaint illustrates the emerging challenge of regulating AI-generated content in political advertising. While Michigan law requires disclosure when AI is used to create or manipulate campaign materials, enforcement depends on detection—a task that remains technically difficult even with specialized tools. The case also highlights how super PACs can inject significant spending into competitive races while maintaining distance from candidates, complicating accountability. As AI tools become more accessible and sophisticated, election officials and voters face growing difficulty distinguishing authentic content from synthetic media.

The broader race

The Democratic primary winner will face U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) in November in what is expected to be one of the nation's most competitive congressional races. Political organizer William Lawrence is also seeking the Democratic nomination alongside Brink and Maasdam.

These details were first reported by Kyle Davidson for Michigan Advance.