AI Use Surges in Israeli Elections, Especially Among Smaller Parties

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly significant role in Israeli election campaigns, particularly for smaller parties seeking to gain visibility and overcome budget limitations. A new analysis from the "It's in AI" research initiative at the Open University reveals that while the Likud party leads in the sheer volume of verified AI-generated content with 95 items, the "Amcha Israel" party, led by Ofer Vinter, has dramatically increased its AI usage, producing 74 items, representing 15% of all AI campaign activity. This aggressive adoption by "Amcha Israel" highlights a strategy to quickly establish a presence.

According to Professor Anat Ben-David, head of the "It's in AI" project, smaller parties like "Amcha Israel," the Economic Party, Noam, the ultra-Orthodox parties, and Blue and White are heavily leveraging AI to compete with larger, better-funded parties. These smaller factions are using AI to generate a significant portion of their campaign materials, aiming to break through the electoral threshold. In contrast, larger, established parties are employing AI more strategically, reserving its use for critical moments to generate maximum public impact.

Recent campaign incidents underscore the evolving use of AI. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and MK Yair Golan both posted AI-generated images of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with critical captions, which were initially removed by Likud for not being properly labeled as AI content. Lapid later re-posted his version with the required AI disclosure. Additionally, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a "deepfake" video depicting Jordan's King Abdullah II alongside Avigdor Lieberman, which was also removed for lacking AI attribution.

The research, supported by Tel Aviv University and The Bright Initiative, aims to increase transparency regarding AI's use in political advertising. The analysis tracks AI content weekly, noting a dip in overall AI propaganda during the Sukkot holiday, with much of the usage shifting to holiday greetings.