Toronto mayoral campaigns clash over AI use weeks before election

Councillor Brad Bradford's mayoral campaign is using an AI app that generates suggested comments and messaging for supporters to share on social media — a practice that's drawing scrutiny from rival campaigns just four weeks before Toronto votes.

The National Observer first reported the tool's existence. Bradford's campaign says the app doesn't reward users for posting and that every comment is reviewed and edited by a real person before posting from their own account. "Suggested content is created by volunteers on our team, not AI," campaign spokesperson Laryssa Waler said. "It's no different from a campaign handing out talking points, literature and lawn signs — just faster."

Mayor Olivia Chow's campaign said it doesn't use apps asking people to surrender personal information and has disabled AI features on any software it uses. "The Olivia Chow campaign hires designers, videographers and writers as part of our campaign team," said Zeus Eden, Chow's spokesperson, "and we hope any online feedback we receive are real people providing real comments."

Chris Alexander's campaign uses AI for research and spelling checks but verifies sources before drawing conclusions. "Trust in this city is already thin and no one should get messaging or information that depends on algorithms and machines," Alexander said.

Anatoliy Gruzd, a professor of information technology management at Toronto Metropolitan University, said AI use in municipal campaigns is relatively low-cost and can expand a campaign's reach. But he cautioned that AI apps engaging supporters risk distorting online debate and supplying voters with misinformation. Experts note AI could help under-resourced teams compete, but it's no substitute for traditional voter persuasion.

Bradford pointed out that Chow's campaign uses Nationbuilder, organizing software with AI elements built in, distinguishing between the two approaches.