New Delhi
Covert influence campaigns related to the Gaza conflict and the Indian elections have been disrupted by OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. OpenAI revealed that in the past three months, it has intervened to halt covert influence operations using artificial intelligence (AI) models to promote dishonest and abusive individuals online. These efforts were linked to operators in China, Iran, Russia (two networks), and a commercial company in Israel.
The Israeli commercial company initially targeted audiences in Canada, the US, and Israel but later shifted focus to India, producing English-language content critical of the ruling BJP party. OpenAI highlighted these findings in their report ‘AI and Covert Influence Operations: Latest Trends.’ The report noted that the network behind the operation created various topical campaigns, including those related to the Gaza conflict and the relationship between individuals of Jewish and Muslim faith.
Additionally, the network generated comments criticizing the BJP party and praising the opposition Congress party in India. Some of the content was posted on social media platforms in response to prominent Western figures, although these replies often had no connection to the original posts. The Lok Sabha elections in India are ongoing, with counting of votes scheduled for June 4.
