Open AI has reported on five campaigns by foreign actors that used the Chat-GPT tool to influence public opinion in democratic countries. Despite Open AI’s claim that Chat-GPT does not significantly help internet trolls increase their reach, independent experts disagree. According to the company, Chinese and Russian actors have utilized the tool to generate text for websites and social media posts in an attempt to sway public opinion in free democracies.
Open AI identified several other campaigns, including Spamouflage from China and Doppelgänger from Russia, as well as an Iranian state-affiliated actor and an Israeli company using Chat-GPT for influence operations. Russia and China view stable democracies in Europe and the U.S. as strategic rivals and seek to undermine them from within by circulating false information and posting malicious comments on social media. While it is acknowledged that AI tools like Chat-GPT can facilitate the spread of disinformation, Open AI’s report suggests that these campaigns have not significantly increased engagement or reach using their services.
However, experts warn that AI tools make it easier to disseminate false information and can potentially destabilize free democracies. The speed at which disinformation can be generated and published using AI tools heightens concerns about the impact of influence operations on public opinion. Recent investigations have revealed the existence of fake media sites that spread disinformation created with the help of AI.
Concerns have been raised about the transparency of Open AI’s methods for detecting and stopping influence operations. While the company has made some of its findings public, questions remain about the effectiveness of their security measures. Experts emphasize the importance of public awareness about the potential misuse of AI tools for spreading disinformation and call for greater transparency from companies like Open AI in disclosing their research and methodologies.
In conclusion, while there may be some limitations to how much influence these campaigns can achieve through Chat-GPT, it is clear that they are attempting to manipulate public opinion in democratic countries through deceptive means. It is crucial that we take proactive measures to safeguard against such efforts before they cause irreparable damage to our institutions and societies.
It is important to note that while Open AI has identified these campaigns by foreign actors who used their technology, there could be other actors who are also using similar techniques without detection by this technology or any other surveillance system.
