Open AI has identified five campaigns by foreign actors aimed at influencing public opinion in free democracies. These efforts have been confirmed to include the use of Chat-GPT by Chinese and Russian actors to generate text for websites and social media posts. While Open AI suggests that the use of Chat-GPT has not significantly increased engagement or reach for these influence campaigns, experts warn that AI can make it easier to spread disinformation, potentially destabilizing democracies by quickly producing and disseminating false narratives.
Recent investigations have revealed the presence of fake media sites operating with a strong bias in favor of certain foreign actors. The use of AI in generating content for these sites makes it challenging to detect and combat influence operations effectively. Experts emphasize the need for greater transparency in Open AI’s methodology and processes.
The strategic rivalry between stable democracies in Europe and America and countries like Russia and China is the backdrop to these efforts. Foreign actors aim to weaken democracies by spreading false information and stirring up discord on social media platforms. While there are concerns about the potential security risks associated with the proliferation of disinformation facilitated by these technologies, companies like Open AI must continue researching and developing ways to counter the misuse of AI for malicious purposes.
