Winnipeg mayoral candidates using AI in campaign
Some Winnipeg mayoral candidates are using AI in their campaigns for the 2026 election, and some Winnipeggers feel mostly negative about those running for office who use the tech.
Winnipeg mayoral candidates are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their 2026 election campaigns, but some residents are expressing strong opposition to this trend. Umar Hayat and Mike Vogiatzakis, two of the candidates, have revealed that they utilize AI for creating posters and advertisements. Vogiatzakis explained that the election is approaching rapidly, which makes it necessary to produce materials quickly.
He opted to use AI "minimally" in his campaign and cautioned against over-reliance on the technology.
The last municipal election in Manitoba occurred in October 2022, and the AI tool ChatGPT was launched just a month later. Technology analyst and journalist, Carmi Levy, sees AI as a "dream come true" for many people due to its efficiency and low cost. However, Levy warns that AI could potentially lead to misinformation that could negatively affect democratic processes. He believes that AI may result in the election of individuals based on incorrect impressions, rather than their true merits.
Levy added that using AI in campaigns could create the perception that untruths are influencing voters' preferences, which poses a significant threat to the integrity of democracy. He stated, "It could mean that the wrong person is elected for the wrong reasons." Global News encourages readers to add them as a preferred source on Google to access more stories about this issue in their search results.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
