In the digital age, political campaigns have become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging the latest technology to connect with voters.

However, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into these efforts can sometimes lead to unexpected and even controversial outcomes.

This was the case for One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, whose recent social media post featuring an AI-generated image has stirred up quite a storm, with critics labelling it an 'AI nightmare.'


The senator's post, intended to promote the 'great Australian dream' of home ownership, included a call to action for affordable housing and the preservation of backyards for Australian families.

'Every Aussie family deserves their piece of paradise, not to be crammed into tiny shoe-box apartments,' the post read.

'Let's bring back affordable housing and save our backyards. Time to put Australian families first!'


Accompanying this message was a photo that, at first glance, depicted a seemingly idyllic family scene in a backyard.

However, upon closer inspection, the image was riddled with bizarre anomalies: a child's leg abruptly cut off, unnaturally elongated limbs, severed arms, and even a mysterious extra arm floating in the corner, unattached to the body.

The image's peculiarities didn't stop there. Some of the children's features, such as their feet, were rendered almost airbrushed, further adding to the surreal and unsettling effect.


The image's oddities quickly caught the attention of social media users, who did not hesitate to voice their concerns and criticisms.

'Look at this AI art closely for a second, mate. This is terrible. Whichever staffer you had do this should be fired for greenlighting this picture,' one user commented.

Another said, 'That's not the Australian dream; it's an AI-generated nightmare.'

In response to the backlash, Senator Roberts issued a statement, lamenting that 'Albanese government policies destroying household finances mean we have to resort to AI to find a stock image of a happy family in a house big enough for a backyard.'

He also took the opportunity to tout One Nation's 2025 policy platform, which he claimed would 'put $40bn back in the pockets of Australians,' resulting in 'many more photos of happy families in the future.'

The use of AI in election material is not currently restricted, and the Australian Electoral Commission acknowledged the likelihood of AI being used in election communications.


However, the commission also emphasises that such technology should not be used in ways that could mislead voters about the voting process or the candidates involved.

This incident raises important questions about the ethical use of AI in political campaigns.

While AI can be a powerful tool for creating engaging content, it also has the potential to distort reality and misrepresent the truth.

In other news, Facebook has acknowledged using public data from Australian users' profiles to train its AI without offering an opt-out option.

The company faces scrutiny in an inquiry over its data practices, including the revelation that children's photos shared on public adult accounts are also being collected. You can read more about it here.


How do you feel about the increasing reliance on technology in political campaigns, and where should we draw the line to maintain the integrity of our democratic processes? Your opinions are valuable, and we look forward to a lively discussion on this modern conundrum.