Chinese Groups Using ChatGPT for Malicious Purposes: A Growing Concern
OpenAI has recently uncovered a rise in activity by Chinese groups using ChatGPT for malicious purposes. These actions include cyberattacks, disinformation, and online influence campaigns. While still small in scale, they show how fast AI tools are becoming part of digital warfare (Reuters).
Disinformation and Political Messaging
OpenAI found that some banned ChatGPT accounts created politically charged content. This included attacks on a Taiwan-based video game, false claims against a Pakistani activist, and misleading statements about U.S. tariffs and foreign aid. These efforts seek to shape opinions and stir global tensions (Reuters).
Cyber Tools Powered by AI
Some of these groups are also improving their cyber capabilities. They use ChatGPT to write scripts, scan open-source intelligence, configure systems, and build tools for password attacks and bot accounts. This boosts the speed and reach of their operations (Reuters, Times of India).
Influence Campaigns in U.S. Politics
The report also uncovered political influence campaigns targeting U.S. debates. These groups created fake social media profiles using AI-generated images and texts. They published both left- and right-leaning content to deepen divisions and confuse the public (Reuters).
How OpenAI Is Responding
OpenAI has banned the accounts involved and improved its monitoring systems. It urges governments and tech companies to work together on AI safety. The group continues to update its models to detect abuse quickly. These steps aim to limit the impact of Chinese groups using ChatGPT for malicious purposes and to protect global digital security
(Reuters).
