OpenAI: China likely behind anti-data center campaign in US
OpenAI revealed Wednesday that influence operators, likely based in China, used ChatGPT accounts to push certain narratives about American artificial intelligence and technology policy debates.
In a report, published Wednesday, the AI firm said it discovered two clusters of ChatGPT accounts “likely originating” from China, one of which created social media comments and pictures alleging data center buildouts increased electricity prices for families in the US.
The second cluster, according to OpenAI, also published negative comments and images stating tariffs are “attempts to dominate technological competition.” These prompts also allegedly instructed the model to not include Chinese President Xi Jinping, but only President Trump.
It also allegedly targeted OpenAI itself with allegations about compromised user data, the firm said, adding it was able to link multiple social media accounts to the cluster, and the ChatGPT accounts were banned.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said they were not familiar with the specific allegations but “firmly oppose any groundless attacks or smears against China.”
The report from a leading AI lab comes as speculation swirls in Washington over how Chinese operators could be impacting America’s ongoing debate over AI, and the massive data centers needed to power the technology’s development.
Various claims have surfaced in recent weeks about the alleged role of Chinese influence operators in broader backlash against data centers, which is being seen on federal, state and local levels. It is not clear the extent to which these operators could be acting.
Millionaire investor Kevin O’Leary went viral last month for claiming foreign interference associated with the Chinese government is partly to blame for the backlash against American data centers.
O’Leary said he saw a dramatic increase in social media messages about his Utah data center project last month, and when his team tracked the messages, some had the same IP addresses and suspected bot activity.
At least one official with the Trump administration and other Republican lawmakers have echoed, or at least sought more information, on these recent claims.
“Any place that’s trying to build data centers is getting bombarded with foreign-directed propaganda to try to block these from being built,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox Business late last month.
Last week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) along with Reps. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Bob Latta (R-Ohio) sent a letter to the FBI and the co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, requesting information about evidence that “strongly suggests” foreign influence campaigns.
“The fact that Chinese Communist Party-backed entities and other foreign adversaries may be attempting to influence decisions related to American data center infrastructure puts into perspective how serious of a fight we are in,” the letter stated.
The spokesperson for the Chinese embassy further told The Hill China “believes in a people-centered approach to AI and advocates openness and inclusiveness to ensure AI is a force for good and for all,” and touted the country’s Global AI Governance Initiative.
