In an unprecedented move highlighting both the potential and inherent limitations of artificial intelligence, the European Democratic Party (EDP) unveiled the world’s first political ad generated entirely by AI. Presented on 5 June 2026 in Brussels, the campaign pushes boundaries not merely in technological prowess, but primarily in fostering essential discussions around AI’s role within democratic societies.
This innovative spot features six digitally created actors, stunningly realistic yet distinctly artificial. These virtual personalities deliver deliberately paradoxical and unsettling messages, designed explicitly to provoke critical thought. Statements such as “Freedom of speech has no value for me,” “Workers’ rights mean nothing to me,” and “I don’t have lungs—why should I care about climate change?” starkly highlight the essential human dimensions absent from AI: conscience, empathy, and moral understanding. Perhaps the most striking line encapsulating the ad’s underlying message is, “I don’t protest. I don’t vote. I’m not real.”
The campaign creates an intentional cognitive dissonance, marrying lifelike realism with profoundly absurd statements to illustrate a fundamental truth: artificial intelligence, irrespective of its complexity, remains devoid of the values essential to democratic governance. The EDP explicitly positions this experiment as a call to vigilance regarding the appropriate role of AI in political processes, cautioning against its use as anything beyond an assistive tool.
Sandro Gozi, Secretary General of the EDP and promoter of the initiative, emphasized this cautionary approach during the launch event: “We are excited about the opportunities offered by AI, which is why we are deeply aware of our responsibility to shape its development. AI must remain a tool at the service of humanity, not an alternative authority.” Gozi further elaborated that AI, neither inherently beneficial nor harmful, reflects the intentions and ethical frameworks of its human operators. The ad, he stated, is designed specifically to “inspire critical thinking, democratic awareness, and collective responsibility.”
The European Democratic Party’s experiment is rooted in a broader commitment to proactive regulation and thoughtful engagement with emerging technologies. While acknowledging AI’s potential to revolutionize diverse sectors such as medicine, education, energy, and communications, the EDP underscores the necessity of stringent oversight. Central to this oversight is the insistence that AI never be perceived or employed as an autonomous political entity capable of making ethical or political decisions independently of human guidance.
Crucially, this ad does not aim to blur boundaries between humans and artificial entities. Rather, it underscores precisely what remains uniquely human: ethical judgment, empathy, advocacy for rights, compassion, imagination, and the capacity for governance. In an era increasingly marked by technological acceleration, the EDP advocates for an AI future shaped responsibly and ethically, safeguarding democratic integrity.
This provocative initiative from the EDP effectively serves as a powerful reminder of the continuing relevance of human-led governance. In prompting reflection about AI’s potential and limitations, the campaign reinforces a core European value: technology must always serve humanity, enhancing rather than replacing democratic dialogue and moral reasoning. The ad’s unsettling realism serves as both a warning and a clarion call for citizens and policymakers alike: the democratic process is, and must remain, fundamentally human.
