Video: AI Is Inflating Kamala Harris’s Rally Crowds!

August 8, 2024

Written by Patrick Sullivan.

Recent revelations have exposed a troubling trend in mainstream media: the use of artificial intelligence to inflate the size of crowds at Kamala Harris’s campaign rallies. Major outlets, including CNN and MSNBC, have been airing images and videos that suggest Harris is drawing large, enthusiastic crowds. However, these visuals often fail AI image detection tests, indicating that the crowds are artificially boosted.

For instance, photos and videos from Harris’s campaign stops, particularly in swing states like Michigan, show suspiciously large gatherings. Yet, when scrutinized with AI tools, these images reveal digital manipulation meant to portray Harris as a more popular candidate than she is. The mainstream media’s tactics echo the same strategies used in 2016 to create the illusion of Hillary Clinton’s widespread appeal, which ultimately proved misleading.

Trump has taken to social media to call out these practices, stating on Truth Social, “If Kamala has 1,000 people at a Rally, the Press goes ‘crazy,’ and talks about how ‘big’ it was—And she pays for her ‘Crowd.’” He contrasted this with the media’s relative silence on his own rallies, where tens of thousands of supporters often gather, only to have their numbers downplayed or ignored.

Kamala Harris’s Struggles on the Campaign Trail

Kamala Harris has not been immune to the challenges of drawing large crowds. Just a few weeks ago, she appeared before a mere 20 people at a high school gym in Fayetteville. Such poor attendance highlights the gap between the media’s portrayal and the reality of her campaign’s struggles. The use of AI to inflate crowd sizes only underscores the desperation of a campaign that’s failing to resonate with voters on the ground.

The decision to bolster Harris’s image with AI-generated crowds is a clear attempt to sway public perception. With the November election looming, the pressure is on for the Harris/Walz ticket to appear viable. Yet, this reliance on digital manipulation raises questions about the integrity of both the media and the campaign itself. If Harris were truly popular, there would be no need for such tactics. Instead, the media seems more interested in creating a narrative than reporting the facts.

The Media’s Role in Shaping Perception

The mainstream media’s willingness to resort to AI trickery is not just about Kamala Harris; it’s about the broader role the media plays in shaping political narratives. By presenting a distorted reality, they’re not just misleading the public—they’re actively participating in the manipulation of the democratic process. This is particularly concerning given the stakes of the upcoming election.

The use of AI to create the illusion of large crowds is a disservice to voters who deserve accurate information. It’s a tactic that undermines the credibility of the media and erodes trust in the electoral process. The public has a right to know the truth, and that truth should not be digitally altered to fit a predetermined narrative. The question now is whether the media will be held accountable for these deceptive practices or if this will become the new norm in political reporting.

Our Take

The mainstream media’s use of AI to enhance Kamala Harris’s rally crowds is a concerning development. It reflects a broader trend of media manipulation that could have serious implications for our democracy. When the media prioritizes narrative over facts, it not only deceives the public but also distorts the political process. Voters deserve accurate, unaltered information to make informed decisions. The media’s resort to AI trickery is a troubling sign of desperation and a dangerous precedent for future elections.