Brad Parscale, the digital guru behind Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory, has shifted his focus to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for political campaigns. His company, Campaign Nucleus, is using AI to generate customized emails, analyze voter sentiment, and identify persuadable voters. Additionally, they are working on an app that will use AI to collect absentee ballots, similar to food delivery services like DoorDash.
Parscale’s rise in politics began when he was hired to build a web presence for Trump’s family business, eventually leading to a key role in Trump’s 2016 campaign. After Trump’s victory, Parscale was promoted to manage his 2020 reelection bid. However, he was replaced as campaign manager following a rally in Tulsa that drew a small crowd, leaving Trump enraged. Despite this setback, Parscale’s influence continues as his company works for Trump’s potential 2024 campaign.
Campaign finance records show that Parscale-linked companies have been paid more than $2.2 million by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. While Trump has expressed concerns about AI, his campaign has used Parscale’s companies for website hosting, email services, fundraising software, and digital consulting. The Biden campaign and Democrats are also utilizing AI to find and motivate voters, as well as counter deceptive content.
Parscale’s ties to wealthy GOP donor Tim Dunn have raised eyebrows, with Dunn investing $5 million in a company associated with Parscale. This investment allowed AiAdvertising, a San Antonio-based ad firm, to develop technologies used in the 2016 election. Dunn later gave AiAdvertising an additional $2.5 million, emphasizing the importance of engaging and impactful campaigns. Despite these financial transactions, both Dunn and AiAdvertising declined to comment on their relationship with Parscale.
Looking ahead, Parscale envisions AI as a way to disrupt traditional political consulting, casting himself as an outsider to the Republican establishment. He believes that AI can empower grassroots movements by providing tools for targeting audiences, distributing content, and engaging influencers. As he continues to advocate for the use of AI in politics, Parscale remains focused on leveraging technology to shape the future of political campaigns and communication strategies.
