You can’t automatically believe everything you see in the age of AI. Generative AI tools like chatbots, image and video generators make it easy for anyone to create realistic media. The capabilities of AI have improved so much that it’s nearly impossible to distinguish real from AI. That’s never been more frustrating or dangerous than it is now during election season.

The 2026 midterm election is on Nov. 3 . All 435 House of Representatives seats are on the ballot, along with 33 Senate seats and many other state and local races across the country. Tech issues, such as data center construction, are popular topics among candidates and ballot measures across the country. You can check your voter registration and see who’s on your ballot now using Vote.org ’s free tool.

This fall, we’ve seen a number of AI-edited political ads, with and without disclosures about their AI use. Unsurprisingly, we’ve seen AI used in some high-profile races, including to give Georgia Sen.…