AI-generated pro-Spencer Pratt mayoral campaign videos point to a new political reality
Analysis Summary
A former reality TV star, Spencer Pratt, is running for mayor of Los Angeles, and his campaign has gained attention through AI-generated videos that portray him as a heroic figure fighting against the current mayor. While Pratt denies creating the videos, he’s shared them online, and experts say the use of AI memes is becoming a new way to influence voters—raising concerns about ethics and manipulation. The campaign focuses on emotional, viral content rather than policy, pushing a narrative that values online attention over substance.
FATE Analysis
Four dimensions of psychological manipulation: how content captures Focus, exploits Authority, triggers Tribal identity, and engineers Emotion.
Focus signals
"a slew of recent viral AI-generated videos portray him as Los Angeles’ lone savior"
The phrase 'lone savior' creates a novelty spike by framing Pratt’s campaign in unprecedented, mythic terms, suggesting a dramatic and unusual narrative shift due to AI-generated media.
"casting Pratt in cinematic, hero-style scenarios: battling Bass in a lightsaber duel while California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris scheme behind the scenes"
The use of fantastical, fictionalized imagery (lightsaber duel, cinematic heroism) manufactures a sense of unprecedented spectacle, capturing attention through absurdity and viral novelty.
Authority signals
"Samuel Woolley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Communications... said... 'It’s a way of speaking the language of memes. And the language of memes is the currency of the internet.'"
The article cites Woolley’s academic credentials to lend scholarly weight to the analysis of AI propaganda, which elevates the perceived legitimacy of the narrative around AI-driven campaigning, though it stops short of using authority to shut down debate.
"The content surrounding the campaign has drawn praise from a handful of celebrities, including reality star/entrepreneur Paris Hilton, actor Taylor Lautner and celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton."
Celebrity names are invoked not just as reporting, but to elevate Pratt’s cultural credibility, subtly leveraging fame as a proxy for authority or social validation.
Tribe signals
"Pratt, who was the villain of MTV from 2006 to 2010 when 'The Hills' aired, has been running a campaign in which he brands himself as an antiestablishment community advocate."
The framing positions Pratt as an outsider fighting against an established political class (Bass, Newsom, Harris), drawing a tribal line between 'antiestablishment' populism and institutional power, though not with intense weaponization.
"Studies have suggested that there’s more skepticism over the political use of generative AI on the American left than on the right"
This introduces a partisan tribal dimension by implicitly framing AI skepticism as a left-vs-right identity marker, potentially converting opinion on technology into ideological alignment.
Emotion signals
"Bass described the viral AI-made videos as indicative of 'a very dangerous trend.' Pratt’s social media campaign 'is now taking on a violent turn,' she said, citing clips that show tomatoes being thrown at her or scenes that depict 'drowning me and the governor in a reservoir.'"
The description of fictionalized violence (drowning, tomato-throwing) is presented as evidence of a 'dangerous trend,' which engineers outrage by emphasizing escalation and personal threat, even if the imagery is satirical.
"A vote for Spencer is a vote for change. Why would you vote for change when everything is fine?... Stay the course with Karen Bass."
The attack ad evokes moral disdain for the status quo by juxtaposing emotional imagery (crying daughter, burning homes) against a rational-sounding argument, fostering a sense of moral urgency and superiority for change.
Narrative Analysis (PCP)
How the article reshapes thinking: Perception (what beliefs are targeted), Context (what information is shifted or omitted), and Permission (what behavior is being encouraged).
The article aims to lead readers to believe that AI-generated media, particularly in political campaigns, is becoming a widespread and influential tool that can reshape public perception through viral, emotionally charged content rather than policy. It suggests that even a satirical or meme-driven campaign like Spencer Pratt’s can gain legitimacy and traction by leveraging internet-native storytelling formats.
The article frames the use of AI in political campaigns as an inevitable and competitive necessity, normalizing its presence by citing expert opinions and polling trends. It makes the idea that candidates must adopt AI tools to remain relevant feel natural—even urgent—especially when competitors are already using them.
The article does not disclose whether the AI-generated videos violate any platform policies or copyright laws, nor does it explore whether such content could mislead voters about a candidate’s actual positions or capabilities. This omission allows the narrative to focus on novelty and reach, rather than accountability or potential voter manipulation.
The reader is nudged to accept the use of AI-generated political content as a legitimate, even strategic, campaign tactic. It encourages tolerance—or even admiration—of unconventional, meme-based campaigning, particularly when it generates attention and online support, regardless of policy substance.
SMRP Pattern
Four manipulation maintenance tactics: Socializing the idea as normal, Minimizing concerns, Rationalizing with logic, and Projecting blame.
"The article presents AI-generated attack videos depicting political opponents as villains (e.g., 'drowning me and the governor in a reservoir') as part of a broader trend normalizing extreme or fantastical portrayals in political discourse."
Red Flags
High-severity indicators: silencing dissent, coordinated messaging, or weaponizing identity to shut down debate.
Techniques Found(4)
Specific propaganda techniques identified using the SemEval-2023 academic taxonomy of 23 techniques across 6 categories.
"a very dangerous trend"
Uses emotionally charged language ('very dangerous trend') to characterize AI-generated campaign videos, amplifying concern without specifying concrete harms or evidence of danger, thus influencing perception through emotional appeal.
"democratization of propaganda"
Employs the term 'propaganda' in a pejorative way to frame the use of AI-generated political content negatively, implying manipulative intent without substantiating that claim in context, thus using charged language to shape reader interpretation.
"AI slop"
Uses a dismissive and exaggerated term ('AI slop') to minimize the value of AI-generated political content, characterizing it as low-quality or meaningless without evidence, thus distorting its perceived legitimacy or impact.
"There’s a good chance that this kind of content will lead to people checking out of politics"
Suggests a negative societal outcome—disengagement from politics—as a likely consequence of AI-generated campaign material, invoking fear about democratic erosion without supporting evidence, thus leveraging fear to critique the phenomenon.