New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo used artificial intelligence (AI) to depict himself driving the subway, working as a stagehand and standing on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in his first advertisement of the general election.
“I’m Andrew Cuomo, and I could pretend to do a lot of jobs,” Cuomo says in the 30-second spot, as an AI-generated version of the former New York governor is depicted performing various roles.
“But I know what I know, and I know what I don’t know. And I do know how to make government work,” he continued, adding, “There are a lot of jobs I can’t do, but I’m ready to be your mayor on day one.”
The mid-six-figure ad buy, which is set to air on broadcast, cable, streaming and social media, features a disclaimer over the AI portions, noting that “this political communication was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence.”
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani quickly took aim at Cuomo’s use of the technology.
“In a city of world-class artists and production crew hunting for the next gig, Andrew Cuomo made a TV ad the same way he wrote his housing policy: with AI,” he wrote on the social platform X. “Then again, maybe a fake Cuomo is better than the real one?”
Mamdani holds a double-digit lead over Cuomo in most polls, according to a New York Times tracker. The New York City mayoral election is now a three-way race between Mamdani, Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams dropped out over the weekend.
Cuomo’s ad comes as politicians are increasingly experimenting with AI. President Trump has repeatedly shared AI-generated content throughout his second term, posting images of himself as everything from a pope to a “Star Wars” Jedi.
In recent days, the president has faced backlash for sharing AI videos of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) that Democrats and outside observers have criticized as racist.
