OpenAI has raised concerns about Chinese propaganda aimed at undermining U.S. policies regarding tariffs and data centers, according to a recent report.
The company outlined that these efforts began in late 2025 and persisted into early 2026, although they appeared to have minimal effect on public sentiment.
AI's Role in Propaganda
OpenAI identified instances of Chinese-speaking users utilizing ChatGPT to create slogans and satirical cartoons criticizing former President Donald Trump's trade policies.
The operations seemed geared toward manipulating a legitimate debate about American AI and wider American tech policies. Under the circumstances, it’s particularly ironic that they tried to use American AI to do it.
Ben Nimmo, Principal Investigator, OpenAI
- Cartoons depicted Trump as a disruptive figure on the global stage.
- The campaign included generating comments for various languages, including Chinese, Italian, and Japanese.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington refuted OpenAI's claims, stating it opposes any baseless attacks against China and emphasizes its commitment to using AI positively.
OpenAI further traced some of the activity to a Chinese tech firm involved in government work, although the company's name remains undisclosed.
As debates about AI and data centers heat up in the U.S., where multiple states are contemplating restrictions, the influence of AI-generated propaganda is becoming increasingly evident.
This incident underscores the growing intersection of technology and geopolitics, highlighting how generative AI can serve as a tool for both innovation and manipulation.