POLITICO Tech What the German election tells us about Elon Musk’s influence
Feb 25, 2025
In this discussion, Emily Schultheis, a POLITICO reporter covering the German election, dives into the surprising rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, supported by Elon Musk's social media influence. She highlights the impact of AI-generated content on their campaign, echoing nationalist sentiments. The conversation also touches on how these election results could affect transatlantic relations and the ethical implications of AI in political messaging, raising concerns about manipulation in modern campaigns.
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German Election Outcome
- One in five German voters backed the far-right AfD party, doubling its representation.
- Elon Musk promoted the AfD, and they used AI-generated content.
Musk's Influence
- Elon Musk's endorsement of the AfD was symbolically useful for the party.
- It helped legitimize them internationally, but likely didn't sway many votes directly.
AI-Generated Content
- The AfD used AI-generated videos evoking nostalgia for a supposedly better past.
- This contrasted with a dystopian present blamed on current politicians.