GOP candidate posts photorealistic AI selfie with Democratic leaders without disclosure

New Hampshire state Senator Daniel E. Innis posted an AI-generated fake selfie on social media showing himself with Democratic representatives Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Chris Pappas during his 2026 GOP Senate campaign. The synthetic image, which lacked AI disclosure and was designed to look like a realistic photograph rather than an obvious illustration, highlights how artificial intelligence is already being deployed in subtle ways to shape political perceptions ahead of the next election cycle.

What happened: Innis acknowledged the image was artificially created when questioned, saying his communications team produced it as part of an AI social media trend.

• The fake selfie appeared to show a nighttime encounter on a city sidewalk, accompanied by text calling Pappas “Your Congressman” with “his favorite crew.”
• When asked about the specific AI programs used and whether the photo-realistic quality was intentional, Innis said “I have no idea” and deferred to his communications team.
• This marks an escalation from Innis’s previous AI-generated posts, which resembled traditional political cartoons rather than realistic photographs.

Why this matters: The incident demonstrates how AI tools are being used to create increasingly sophisticated political content that voters might not immediately recognize as fabricated.

• Unlike obvious illustrations or cartoons, photo-realistic AI images can blur the line between authentic and synthetic media in ways that could mislead voters.
• The lack of clear AI disclosure raises questions about transparency standards for political communications in the digital age.

The broader context: New Hampshire has already experienced AI’s impact on elections, including a robocall that mimicked President Biden’s voice to discourage primary voting.

• State lawmakers responded with legislation regulating “deepfakes” and providing additional candidate protections within 90 days of elections.
• Innis is competing against Scott P. Brown for the GOP’s 2026 Senate nomination, while Chris Pappas faces Karishma Manzur in the Democratic primary.

What experts are saying: AI policy specialists warn that distinguishing authentic from artificial media will become increasingly challenging as tools improve.

• “It’s becoming more and more difficult, even for subject matter experts, to necessarily be able to delineate what might be AI-generated and what might not be,” said Shawn Powers, senior director of AI policy at Southern New Hampshire University.
• Powers emphasized the importance of transparency: “If people are encountering AI-generated artifacts, they should know that. It should be acknowledged in the forefront.”

The bottom line: As AI tools become more accessible and sophisticated, the incident underscores the need for both media literacy among voters and ethical standards for political communications.

• “We can’t necessarily take anything at face value,” Powers noted, recommending that people cross-reference media from multiple sources.