A Chinese official’s use of ChatGPT revealed an intimidation operation (www.cnn.com)

A recent report from OpenAI has unveiled a significant Chinese influence operation, inadvertently exposed by a law enforcement official’s use of ChatGPT to document efforts aimed at intimidating dissidents abroad. The operation employed tactics such as impersonating U.S. immigration officials and forging official documents to suppress dissent, highlighting the alarming ways authoritarian regimes leverage AI technologies for censorship and misinformation. Notably, the ChatGPT user detailed efforts to spread false narratives, including a fabricated obituary for a dissident, which aligns with actual instances of misinformation surfacing online. This incident underscores the escalating use of AI tools by state actors, particularly in China, to enhance their information warfare and repression strategies. As governments worldwide race to harness AI advancements, the report signals a critical intersection between AI technology and global governance, raising concerns about the implications for civil liberties and the integrity of information in the face of increasing surveillance and manipulation. With implications for international relations, particularly between the U.S. and China, experts like Michael Horowitz assert that the competition in AI extends beyond technical advancements to encompass the day-to-day operational strategies of state surveillance and disinformation campaigns.