OpenAI bans Russian, Iranian ChatGPT propaganda networks

OpenAI on Thursday said it shut down two influence operations -- from Russia and Iran -- that used ChatGPT to push fake journalist personas and run a "think-tank" to covertly peddle anti-Ukraine propaganda. OpenAI's report is the latest illustration of how state actors can easily exploit widely available AI tools to peddle sophisticated propaganda against adversaries on a mass scale. The American AI giant said it banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts that originated in Russia and Iran and were used to support "false front" entities for geopolitical and conflict-related messaging. The Iranian operation involved seven "journalist" profiles, each purporting to be from Western countries including the United States, that were used to plant long-form articles in media outlets around the world. Read moreWhite House promotes 'Trump TV' with AI-altered photo "We identified almost 100 articles published or syndicated under the operation's bylines across roughly a dozen online outlets around the world," OpenAI said. "These were small to medium outlets, generally focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and events in the Middle East." The earliest article identified by OpenAI was publishe...