OpenAI says it is working to protect what it calls "democratic AI" after uncovering and disrupting two influence operations that allegedly used ChatGPT to create content aimed at influencing public debate in the United States. The company said it banned “two clusters of ChatGPT accounts likely originating from China … after they used our models in support of apparent covert influence operations that promoted narratives in an attempt to manipulate a legitimate debate about American AI and wider tech policies”.

OpenAI found Chinese-linked accounts creating AI-generated posts about data centre electricity costs. The campaign had little reach. The debate is real anyway.

The campaigns show how pro-China actors are testing AI tools.