FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Brad Parscale, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, made a bold declaration in a promotional video, promising viewers a groundbreaking shift in politics.
In the video, set to hypnotic beats in a dimly lit room, Parscale announced, “You’re going to see some of the most amazing new technology in artificial intelligence that’s going to replace polling in the future across the country.” Parscale, known for his role in Trump's 2016 presidential victory, claims that his new AI-powered platform will not only revolutionize polling but also transform campaigning. He boasts that his AI tools will surpass those of big tech companies and lead to a wave of conservative victories worldwide.
This isn’t the first time Parscale has touted new technologies for right-wing campaigns. He was the digital mastermind behind Trump's 2016 victory, partnering with the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica. In 2020, Parscale had a public fallout with Trump after the Capitol riot, but he's back in the game, working behind the scenes to assist Trump in his race against Democratic President Joe Biden.
Parscale's company, Campaign Nucleus, claims to use AI to generate customized emails, analyze voter sentiment from data, and identify persuadable voters. They also amplify the social media posts of "anti-woke" influencers. Since last year, Campaign Nucleus and other Parscale-linked companies have received over $2.2 million from the Trump campaign and related political action committees, according to campaign finance records.
Despite his involvement with the Trump campaign, Parscale is not directly engaged in day-to-day operations, according to a GOP operative. However, his AI-driven approach to micro-targeting supporters for campaign funds could be crucial, as the campaign has seen a decline in contributions from small donors and a surge in legal expenses for defending Trump in various cases.
Parscale has positioned Campaign Nucleus as a comprehensive solution for conservative candidates, claiming it can automate tasks typically done by campaign workers. The company says it has helped its clients raise $119 million and has sent nearly 14 billion emails on their behalf.
While Parscale's AI-driven approach has drawn attention, some experts caution about AI's potential misuse, such as deepfakes and other misleading content that could sway voters. Nevertheless, Parscale's vision for AI in politics continues to evolve, with plans for an app to assist campaigns in collecting absentee ballots, among other innovations.
Campaign finance records show that the Trump campaign has paid Campaign Nucleus and related entities over $800,000 since early 2023. Additionally, two other companies linked to Parscale, Dyspatchit Email and Text Services and BCVM Services, have received $1.4 million from the Trump campaign and related entities.
Parscale's reemergence in the political scene, backed by AI-powered tools and influential backers, suggests that the intersection of technology and politics is set to reshape future campaigns.