GOP Lt. Gov. candidate uses AI to debate Dem rival who rejected debate offers
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Conservative businessman and host John Reid used artificial intelligence to represent Democratic challenger Ghazala Hashmi in a mock debate for the 2025 lieutenant governor race.
Reid, the Republican candidate from Richmond, challenged Hashmi, a state senator from Chesterfield, in a series of regional debates around Virginia. Reid noted that Hashmi is the only candidate among the six running for statewide office to decline a debate.
A representative for Reid assured that the AI only considered Hashmi’s image and voice – and those of the moderator – and that the responses given by Hashmi’s representation were based on her past quotes or publicized political positions.
Hashmi’s campaign called the video “deepfake” and told the Washington Post it was a “desperate move straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook.”
YOUNGKIN UNLEASHES CUTTING-EDGE AI TECHNOLOGY IN EFFORT TO REDUCE VIRGINIA GOVERNMENT’S RED STRIKE
John Reid and Ghazala Hashmi, candidates for lieutenant governor of Virginia (Lyra Bordelon/USA Today Network via Imagn Images; Bill O’Leary/Getty Images)
“While we appreciate that ‘AI Ghazala’ shares his vision, such as his commitment to public education and reproductive rights, it’s pretty clear that Reid only cares about shoddy gadgets and doesn’t care about governing,” the campaign added.
The AI debate differed from other recent artificially created videos, in which the words and depictions of lawmakers were sometimes caricatured.
President Donald Trump shared a viral AI video earlier this month showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wearing a sombrero while “La Cucaracha” played in the background and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called his party “woke pieces of shit.”
Schumer never said that in real life.
GOOGLE CEO, TOP TECH LEADERS JOIN FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP AT WHITE HOUSE AI MEETING
In her debate opening statement, “AI Hashmi” said she is running because Virginians need “someone who has the experience, knowledge and ability to fight for Virginians.”
“I have experience addressing the issues Virginians care about: education, health care, housing and opportunity. I’m ready to craft policy that will make Virginia an example for other states.”
In response, Reid – in real life – noted that Hashmi wouldn’t show up for a real debate.
HOLLYWOOD TURNS TO AI TOOLS TO REWIRE THE MAGIC OF MOVIE
“If she’s not willing to engage in her own campaign for lieutenant governor, I don’t see why anyone would think she would be able to fight for anything,” he said.
Reid said Hashmi favored keeping Virginia schools closed for another year after the coronavirus pandemic and that he “pushed”[ed] for boys in women’s sports…higher taxes [and] release criminals sooner.”
“Everything that we see as a problem in the state of Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi pushed it,” he said.
In that regard, Reid said his work in communications in Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and in radio helps him understand what businesses need from state government if they choose to operate in Virginia.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The lieutenant governor’s position “isn’t just a hammer to the Senate,” Reid said. “[It is] working for the State of Virginia.
