📷 Image Credits: NDTV
OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, recently took swift action to disrupt a deceptive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a covert operation aimed at influencing the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in India. The influence campaign, known as “Zero Zeno”, was orchestrated by the Israeli firm STOIC, a political campaign management firm. The threat actors behind the operation attempted to utilize OpenAI’s powerful language models to generate comments, articles, and social media profiles that criticized the ruling BJP party and favored the opposition Congress party. This nefarious activity was promptly detected and thwarted by OpenAI within 24 hours of its commencement.
According to OpenAI, the covert operation targeted audiences in Canada, the United States, and Israel with content in English and Hebrew, before shifting its focus to English-language content aimed at audiences in India. The company took decisive action by banning a cluster of accounts operated from Israel that were involved in generating and editing content for the influence campaign across various platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram, websites, and YouTube. The BJP responded to the report by labeling it as a “dangerous threat” to democracy, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, expressed concern over the influence operations and foreign interference targeting the BJP, calling for a detailed examination of the vested interests involved. OpenAI revealed that it has disrupted five covert operations in the past three months that aimed to exploit their models for deceptive activities on the internet. The company reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe deployment of AI and preventing abuse of its platform.
In addition to combating state-aligned groups and persistent threats, OpenAI highlighted the importance of transparency in dealing with covert influence operations that seek to manipulate public opinion. By actively monitoring and disrupting threat actors, including those behind the Zero Zeno operation, OpenAI aims to safeguard the integrity of online discourse and protect democratic processes from foreign interference. The swift response from OpenAI underscores the critical role that AI technology plays in detecting and countering such malicious activities, ultimately reinforcing the need for increased vigilance in the digital era.
