When AI and campaigning come up, the conversation is usually about content generation, especially the far right’s use of AI-generated images, videos and posts. But many of the more interesting AI campaigning tools being developed are doing less visible work: helping campaigners prepare, monitor, respond and learn.
What campaigners currently see
Many campaigners are asking how AI fits into our work. Some want to know how to compete with the flood of AI-generated content the far right has been creating. Others are questioning whether to use AI at all.
What’s less talked about is that most AI tools being developed by campaigners aren’t about creating more content, but about providing support behind the scenes.
In this blog I’m sharing some of the AI for campaigning tools being developed in the sector. These were presented at the AI for Campaigning conference, which was organised by Campaign Lab and hosted by Newspeak House in July 2026.
For each tool, I’m sharing what it does and my thoughts on how it can support our campaigning work.
AI tools that help campaigners prepare
Practising before knocking on the doors
Imagine you are going canvassing for the first time. It is nerve-racking knocking on your first door, meeting your first pushback and making your first argument.
The Canvass Coach game lets volunteers practise having a conversation with different personas before talking to people in real life. You get feedback against several criteria, including active listening, being warm and showing empathy. You can then continue the conversation and practise based on the feedback you received.
This means new volunteers can practise chatting to different personas and build confidence before they start, instead of role playing with someone they know. I wish we had this 10 years ago.
There are some areas of development. For example adding personas to represent minority groups, or creating a phase 2 that helps volunteers practise managing rejection and less kind responses. This won’t remove the nerves entirely, but it can help us start from a more advanced point.
Preparing for local conversations
This locals mapping tool builds on local insights to create personas tailored to the area you are visiting. It could help campaigners arrive in an unfamiliar area with more context and better prepared for conversations.
I see this as useful if you are preparing for street stalls or door-knocking, or looking for local insights to tailor your messaging. You may already know much of this information if you are focusing on influencing a few local councils and you have studied them carefully. The tool will though help you when you need to scale up to many areas, or move quickly into places you’re less familiar with.
One thing to bear in mind is that generated personas can give campaigners extra context, but they cannot tell what local residents genuinely think. So, it is helpful to prepare but be ready for unexpected conversations.
AI that helps campaigners manage information
Answering voters’ questions with an AI bot
Imagine you can use Facebook messenger to ask a local candidate’s AI bot about their policies and views at any time. If your question needs more detail, the candidate can come back to you personally.
Designed properly, this could save candidates and campaign teams time. It could answer common questions, highlight casework and help them respond faster to what needs the candidate’s attention.
In this case, the bot was clearly identified as AI, and it was clear when the candidate personally joined the conversation. The development of the bot also handled the risks of misrepresenting the candidate’s policies, using the wrong tone, or leaving people unsure who they’re actually talking to.
My respect to local candidate Gareth Dowling for testing this out so we can see what is possible. You can test the bot here
Keeping up with the crowded information environment
My opinion may be biased about the Rootcause Drumbeat Machine as I work on it. The problem we’re trying to solve is familiar to many campaigners. There is so much happening around us in mainstream media, TikTok, Reddit, what LLMs are saying about us, Substack and other online spaces with less capacity to keep an eye on it all.
The Drumbeat analyses these sources, identifies what matters to a particular campaign and turns it into regular campaigning and communications insights. It’s designed to surface what’s most relevant to you, along with the analysis you need to make a decision.
This will give you timely and useful insights. These should be added to what you are hearing behind closed doors or what your community is telling you, otherwise the picture won’t be complete. It can give you information power, but your political judgement should stay in the driving seat.
AI that helps explore new campaigning focus areas
Exploring campaigning opportunities
We also tested working with multiple AI agents to build a campaign strategy. The Campaign Factory is an example. Its agents focus on different strategy elements, including policy, campaigning, and media. They analyse the issue, then put a campaign strategy together.
I tested the same multi-agent system when I started working with agents in 2025. It produced interesting analysis, but I took a step back when I saw how much insights were generated, without the main ingredient in a campaign strategy: what people are telling you in person. Maybe that can be added in the context.
A better use of this approach, in my opinion, would be exploring new campaigning opportunities. You could put several change ideas into the system and quickly get an assessment of the key opportunities, stakeholders, paths to change and whether each idea builds on your organisation’s strengths. Then campaigners can decide which opportunity they want to unpack further.
Look behind the content
When campaigners think about using AI, content generation does not have to be the starting point. Look at the less visible work: preparing volunteers, creating insights, monitoring information and exploring opportunities.
For campaigners interested in exploring the world of AI and unsure where to start, SMK’s Deep Dive AI & campaigning: using artificial intelligence effectively and ethically.This three-hour session explores how large language models, or LLMs, can support campaigning, policy and advocacy. The next session will be on 11 November led by me. You can book here.
If you’d like support before then, get in touch by completing this form here.