Senator Cleitinho Uses AI Video Featuring Deceased Family Members
Senator Cleitinho (Republicanos-MG) shared an AI-generated video on Tuesday, November 28th, featuring digitally recreated versions of his deceased father and brother. In the video, these AI figures encourage the senator to "go ahead" and "do what needs to be done." This post came shortly after the release of a Quaest poll showing Cleitinho leading in all scenarios for the Minas Gerais gubernatorial race. The senator's brother, Matheus Augusto Ramalhão Azevedo, passed away on July 18th at the age of 30 due to a leukemia relapse. He was being treated in Divinópolis, in central-western Minas Gerais. Attempts to reach Cleitinho's press office were unsuccessful. Federal Deputy Zé Vitor, the state president of the PL in Minas Gerais, commented that "nothing has been defined" but expressed confidence in a "great project" involving all parties.
The strategic deployment of an AI-generated video featuring deceased family members by Senator Cleitinho, immediately following a favorable poll, raises questions about the ethical boundaries of political campaigning. This tactic leverages deep emotional resonance, potentially bypassing rational discourse and exploiting personal grief for political gain. While AI offers novel communication tools, its use in simulating the voices of departed loved ones for electoral advantage could set a precedent for emotionally manipulative political strategies. This approach sidesteps the substantive policy discussions needed for governance, prioritizing a powerful, albeit potentially unsettling, emotional appeal. The long-term implications for public trust and the normalization of such advanced digital manipulation in political arenas warrant careful consideration as technology continues to evolve.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.