Exclusive-US political candidates tailor messages for AI models used by voters

US political candidates are altering their campaign messages to cater to AI chatbots that many voters are utilizing to inquire about various topics, according to documents obtained by Reuters. One presentation for Republican challenger Mike Minogue in Massachusetts aimed to convince popular AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to portray him favorably on key issues.

This strategy goes beyond conventional search engine optimization commonly employed by candidates. As AI becomes a primary source of news, political campaigns need to control and influence AI's output to become the preferred choice when voters ask questions about issues such as taxes, housing, and public safety. Some experts express concerns about fact-checking and misinformation in AI-driven political campaigns.

AI monitoring services can range from a few hundred dollars per month for small-scale efforts to tens of thousands of dollars monthly, including consulting and media purchases.