DUSU candidate uses AI-generated Trump, Musk, Bezos for campaign push
What's the story
The Delhi University Students's Union (DUSU) elections have taken a futuristic turn this year with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaigning. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has led this tech-savvy approach. The ABVP's social media platforms are filled with videos featuring deepfake avatars of global icons endorsing their candidates.
Celebrity endorsements
AI Trump endorses Kunal Chaudhary for secretary
One of the videos on DUSU's Instagram page features an AI-generated Donald Trump, who endorses Kunal Chaudhary for secretary. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your cheetah... Kunal Chaudhary, very tough, very smart," Trump's avatar said in the video. Another video features an AI Elon Musk endorsing Chaudhary's ballot number against a backdrop of a rocket launchpad. AI Jeff Bezos also joined in endorsing Chaudhary, saying, "Ballot no. 3 is not just a vote, it's an investment for the future."
Bollywood endorsement
Sanjay Dutt backs Maan as 'ummeeidvaar'
Unlike Chaudhary, ABVP presidential candidate Aryan Maan received personal backing from actors Sanjay Dutt and Randeep Hooda. In the video, Dutt calls Maan his nephew (bhatija) and asks Delhi University students to vote heavily for the ABVP candidates. Hooda made a similar appeal. Virendra Singh Solanki, ABVP's national general secretary, said that a centralized team of over 60 students from colleges across Delhi is behind this innovative campaign strategy using various AI tools to generate such videos.
Election details
Polling in 2 shifts, counting on September 19
The DUSU elections are being held for 2.75 lakh eligible voters, with polling conducted in two shifts, 8:30am to 1:00pm for day classes and 3:00pm to 7:30pm for evening classes. The counting of votes will take place on September 19. The election results will decide the student body's leadership for the upcoming year after a fractured mandate last year.
Alternative approach
Traditional campaigning for NSUI, SFI-AISA
In contrast to the ABVP's AI-driven campaign, the National Students's Union of India (NSUI) and the Students's Federation of India-All India Students Association (SFI-AISA) alliance have opted for traditional campaigning without AI avatars. The Congress's student wing, NSUI, had won the president and joint secretary posts last year. It was the NSUI's first win as president after seven years.