Tracking uncovers $80 million spent on AI political ads, most without disclosure

The 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns are the first in which AI-generated political ads are regularly appearing on people's televisions and social media feeds. We are researchers who have been studying political advertising through the Wesleyan Media Project since 2010. This election cycle—using data from media reports, student coders and AdImpact, a firm that tracks political ad spending—we've tracked about $80 million in spending on almost 170 unique ads that use AI. ### Source Reporting & Context - Primary Wire Service: Phys.org Science News. - Editorial Verification: Reporting corroborated against official primary wire disclosures. - Coverage Status: Ongoing monitoring by regional desk.