Spencer Pratt's viral AI video ignites debate over artificial intelligence's role in politics

AI video featuring LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt sparks debate over the tech's role in politics

An AI-generated political video featuring former reality TV star and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt as a Batman-like figure has gone viral, drawing attention not only for its over-the-top imagery but also for the growing role of artificial intelligence in political messaging. The video portrays Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as a villainous Joker-like figure and Gov. Gavin Newsom as French royalty eating cake, while Pratt appears as a hero swooping in, apparently to save Los Angeles and California from chaos. The cinematic ad was created using artificial intelligence and visual effects, underscoring how quickly AI-generated content is becoming part of modern political campaigns and online influence efforts. On whether the video is ultimately good or bad for voters, Mindy Romero, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Inclusive Democracy, said, "It depends on your perspective." "As far as we know, Spencer Pratt is not Batman," Romero joked, adding that most voters are generally able to recognize when a viral video is AI-generated. The video was created by filmmaker Charles Curran, not by an official campaign committee, and Curran has not publicly disclosed who financed the production. Pratt shared the video on his own social media accounts. Still, the video is raising broader concerns about how AI could be used to manipulate voters, particularly as increasingly realistic deepfake technology becomes more widespread. A California law enacted in 2025 requires certain political advertisements using AI-generated or substantially altered content to include disclosures alerting viewers that the material is artificial. The law is overseen by the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Republican strategist Tab Berg said the Spencer Pratt video appears more comedic than deceptive. "The Spencer Pratt spot is exactly what AI should be, which is using innovation and technology to make an interesting ad that is not trying to fool voters," Berg said. But Berg warned that AI becomes far more dangerous when political operatives use the technology to mislead the public. "Where they've literally changed the words of elected officials who are speaking to change the meaning," he said. The Fair Political Practices Commission has asked lawmakers for additional funding to help identify AI-generated campaign advertisements. Officials say they have received allegations involving misuse of AI in politics, though no formal violations have been issued so far. CBS News Sacramento has reached out to both Newsom and Bass' offices for comment but has not received an official statement.

MAGA Rallies Around Spencer Pratt's L.A. Mayoral Candidacy

The former reality star is winning over conservatives, in part through a viral AI campaign video Every few years, the national conservative movement coalesces around a Republican in California who they swear will finally break the Democratic grip on the Los Angeles mayoral race. Last cycle, it was the real estate billionaire Rick Caruso - a mogul who positioned himself at the nexus of respectable Californian fiscal conservatism and the MAGA movement. This cycle, it's Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star conservatives are lauding for his performance during the city's mayoral debate this week, and for his campaign videos -- particularly a superhero-themed AI one that has gone viral this week. The video, made by AI-filmmaker Charles Curran, depicts the most prominent California Democrats, including incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, as comic book villains. Kamala Harris is portrayed as a puppet on strings. Pratt helps save the day as a Batman-esque superhero. Here it is, if you can stomach it: The visceral unpleasantness of Curran's video does not seem to affect the cadre of conservative boosters, who have lauded the video. "Maybe the best political ad of the year," wrote former Donald Trump punching bag Jeb Bush. "This is basically a maximalist expression of what political ads can do," added disgraced former congressman Matt Gaetz. "This is fantastic," wrote Fox News host Laura Ingraham. It isn't just the AI video. Meghan McCain was an early proponent of Pratt's campaign, and recently praised his communication style, writing that he represents a "blueprint for how my generation of older millennials needs to communicate and present their ideas and campaign messaging when running for office" and praising his "raw talent." Right-wing influencers Libs of TikTok also lauded Pratt's debate performance, sharing a clip in which he said no when asked if noncitizens should be allowed to vote in local elections, while Bass and fellow candidate Nithya Raman explained that it depends and that plenty of noncitizens are living in the United States legally. Right-wing tech guy Chamath Palihapitiya also praised Pratt's debate performance. "Spencer Pratt is coherent and reasonable," he wrote. "If he becomes LA's next mayor he will return that city to safety and greatness. Please watch the entire debate and judge for yourself." Elon Musk, another noted right-wing tech guy, is also a fan. The MAGA billionaire retweeted Republican flak Richard Grenell urging people to vote for Pratt. "Anyone in LA who isn't voting for @spencerpratt is a total idiot," Grenell wrote. "This isn't even close." Pratt's campaign has centered around cleaning up the streets of Los Angeles, and drilling down on how the city's Democratic leadership handled the 2025 wildfires, which burned down Pratt's Pacific Palisades home. Despite all of the right-wing hype, Pratt is still something of a longshot to win the race in the liberal stronghold, with Bass currently leading most polls, followed by Raman, a local council member. The praise for Pratt follows a familiar pattern of intense interest in an outlier candidate, but as California's statewide and municipal elections have grown closer in recent years, there's always a chance a Pratt or Caruso figure can break through. The right is hoping for its own Zohran Mamdani moment -- getting enough social media traffic to make their chosen provocateur break out. But the content itself isn't the same: while the AI video's depictions of socialist supersoldiers propping up elite, authoritarian Democrats may titillate national commentators, it seems unlikely that they'll move the needle as well as Mamdani's constant live-produced content did. For Pratt's part, though, he's certainly not camera-shy.