NEW YORK (AP) — An advertisement featuring a voice that sounds like President Donald Trump has caught attention, but it’s actually an AI-generated clone. The ad promotes an “all new Fannie Mae” and presents the organization as the “protector of the American Dream.” This comes as the Trump administration seeks to address concerns over housing affordability.
Trump plans to discuss housing issues at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where global leaders and business executives gather this week. This isn’t the first use of AI by the Trump family. Recently, First Lady Melania Trump utilized AI technology to create an audio version of her memoir. However, it’s unclear who created the voice for the Fannie Mae ad, as ElevenLabs, a known AI firm, stated they were not involved.
In a recent address, Trump pledged aggressive reforms for housing, stating, “For generations, home ownership meant security, independence, and stability. But today, that dream feels out of reach for too many Americans not because they stopped working hard but because the system stopped working for them.” The ad emphasizes that Fannie Mae aims to collaborate with banks to help more prospective homebuyers secure mortgages.
Fannie Mae and its counterpart, Freddie Mac, are critical to the U.S. housing market. Both organizations have been under government oversight since the Great Recession and together guarantee about half of the $13 trillion in U.S. home loans.
Trump, along with Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has discussed the idea of taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public. There are also suggestions to extend the typical 30-year mortgage to 50 years in an effort to lower monthly payments, though this proposal faced criticism for potentially diminishing home equity growth.
To further alleviate concerns about rising mortgage rates, Trump announced plans for the federal government to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds. He mentioned that both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have the funds available for this endeavor.
In addition, he expressed intentions to block large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, a move aimed at making it easier for younger families to buy their first homes.
Interestingly, Trump’s support for AI usage comes amid his previous criticisms of the Biden administration for allegedly using autopen technology to replicate his signature on various documents. However, a recent report by House Republicans did not provide evidence to support these claims.
This evolving use of technology in politics raises questions. According to a 2022 Pew Research study, nearly 80% of Americans have concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and society. As the lines between technology and governance continue to blur, these trends are likely to shape future policy discussions.
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Donald Trump, Bill Pulte, Melania Trump, Artificial intelligence, Information technology, General news, Politics, Engineering, Mortgages, Real estate, Business, World Economic Forum, United States government, U.S. news, U.S. News
