OpenAI shuts Iranian group's ChatGPT accounts over alleged attempts to influence US election

On Friday, OpenAI announced that it had disabled accounts used by an Iranian group to generate content for influencing the US presidential elections and other issues using its ChatGPT chatbot.

Operation Storm-2035 used ChatGPT to generate content on topics ranging from commentating on the candidates on both sides in the US elections to conflict in Gaza and Israel's presence at the Olympic Games, which were subsequently posted on social media accounts and sites.

An investigation by the Microsoft-backed AI firm found that ChatGPT had penned long-form articles and shorter-form social media comments.

OpenAI said that the operation does not appear to have gained any meaningful engagement with its audience.

Most of the identified social media posts had few or no likes, shares, or comments, and it did not see any indications that web articles were shared on social media.

The accounts have been banned from using OpenAI services, and the activities are continuously monitored for further attempts at violating policies, it said.

A Microsoft threat-intelligence report earlier this month said that an Iranian network, Storm-2035, composed of four websites masquerading as news outlets, is actively engaging US voter groups on opposing ends of the political spectrum.

The engagement, according to the report, was built out through "polarising messaging on issues such as the US presidential candidates, LGBTQ rights, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.".

The Nov. 5 presidential election pits Democratic candidate Kamala Harris against Republican Donald Trump, both are locked in a tight race.

The AI firm said in May it had disrupted five covert influence operations that sought to use its models for "deceptive activity" acrosstheinternet.