New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo is facing widespread criticism after his official X account posted an AI-generated ad depicting “criminals for Zohran Mamdani.” The post was deleted shortly after it went live, but not before it was widely reshared.
The ad appeared during the second mayoral debate and ran for just over two minutes. It opens with an AI-generated image of Mamdani running through New York streets and eating rice with his hands. The video then showed a series of negative stereotypes, including a Black man in a keffiyeh shoplifting, a man abusing a woman, a sex trafficker, and a drug dealer, all portrayed as supporting Mamdani.
Reaction was swift and critical. Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, called the ad “so gross and full of racist stereotypes” and said Cuomo “needs to be thrown in the ash heap of history.”
Laila Al-Arian, executive producer at Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines, questioned the imagery’s impact on Palestinian New Yorkers. Benjamín Schultz-Figueroa, associate professor of film and media studies at Seattle University, described the video as “next-level fascist AI slop” and a collection of NYC’s “scary stereotypes.” MSNBC co-anchor Antonia Hylton also condemned the ad as “sad and pretty racist.”
This is not Cuomo’s first use of AI-generated content in the mayoral race. Earlier in October, his campaign released a video showing him performing various jobs around the city, including driving a subway car, trading on the stock exchange, and washing high-rise windows. A recent video attempted to depict Mamdani as a “mini” Bill de Blasio, echoing comparisons made during the first debate.
Zohran Mamdani responded on Instagram, criticizing Cuomo’s approach. “In a city of world-class artists and production crews hunting for the next gig, Andrew Cuomo made a TV ad the same way he wrote his housing policy: with AI. Then again, maybe a fake Cuomo is better than the real one?”
The ad has drawn attention to the growing use of AI in political campaigns and the risks of promoting harmful stereotypes. Observers note that while AI can be used creatively, campaigns must exercise caution to avoid misleading or offensive content.
Cuomo and Mamdani’s campaigns have not provided further comments on the deleted ad. However, the incident has sparked widespread debate over ethics, race, and the role of artificial intelligence in elections.
The controversy highlights concerns about AI-generated content shaping public opinion, especially during high-stakes political campaigns. Critics argue that AI must not be used to target candidates with racist or false portrayals, emphasizing accountability in political messaging.
