OpenAI reports Russian and Iranian false-front influence campaigns
OpenAI says it banned ChatGPT accounts used by suspected Russian and Iranian campaigns that posed as a research organization and journalists.
Accounts banned after an investigation
OpenAI says it banned clusters of ChatGPT accounts connected to suspected Russian and Iranian influence operations, NPR and CNA reported after the company’s October 8 disclosure. According to OpenAI’s account, the Russian campaign used a purported Latin American research organization and recruited local researchers who apparently did not know who was behind it. The operators also used ChatGPT to prepare internal reports. NPR reported that some of those reports claimed responsibility for activity OpenAI could not independently corroborate, so the operators’ claims should not be treated as proof of every alleged intervention.
Fake bylines reached publishers
OpenAI says the Iran-origin campaign used seven fictitious journalist identities to prepare and pitch articles to real outlets. NPR reported that almost 100 articles appeared under those identities. CNA reported that OpenAI rated this strand more consequential than the campaign’s social media comments, which usually drew little engagement. These reach assessments are OpenAI’s findings, not an independent count by AITrending. OpenAI did not identify the ultimate operators behind either campaign, according to CNA. The disclosed use of ChatGPT shows how the accounts supported the operations; it does not establish that AI created every piece of campaign material or that all claimed effects occurred.