OpenAI finds more Chinese groups using ChatGPT for malicious purposes
OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China. (AFP pic)
SAN FRANCISCO : OpenAI is seeing an increasing number of Chinese groups using its artificial intelligence (AI) technology for covert operations, which the ChatGPT maker described in a report released today.
While the scope and tactics employed by these groups have expanded, the operations detected were generally small in scale and targeted limited audiences, the San Francisco-based startup said.
Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, there have been concerns about the potential consequences of generative AI technology, which can quickly and easily produce human-like text, imagery and audio.
OpenAI regularly releases reports on malicious activity it detects on its platform, such as creating and debugging malware, or generating fake content for websites and social media platforms.
In one example, OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China, including criticism of a Taiwan-centric video game, false accusations against a Pakistani activist, and content related to the closure of USAID.
Some content also criticised US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, generating X posts, such as 'Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who's supposed to keep eating?'.
In another example, China-linked threat actors used AI to support various phases of their cyber operations, including open-source research, script modification, troubleshooting system configurations, and development of tools for password brute forcing and social media automation.
A third example OpenAI found was a China-origin influence operation that generated polarised social media content supporting both sides of divisive topics within US political discourse, including text and AI-generated profile images.
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on OpenAI's findings.
OpenAI has cemented its position as one of the world's most valuable private companies after announcing a US$40 billion funding round valuing the company at US$300 billion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Vision 2020 plaque removed for safety reasons, says KL Tower
Visitors queuing up to enter the Kuala Lumpur Tower after its reopening. The Vision 2020 time capsule was opened on April 13. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A plaque marking where the Vision 2020 time capsule was planted at the Kuala Lumpur Tower was removed for safety reasons, according to the skyscraper's operator. LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd said the plaque originally functioned as a cover for the special chamber where the time capsule was located, but could no longer be securely closed after the capsule was opened on April 13. 'This posed a risk of injury to visitors passing by the area. Therefore, it was removed for safety reasons, in line with the management's priority to ensure the well-being of all visitors,' said the company's CEO Khairil Faizal Othman in a statement. Khairil added that there were no longer any historical elements or artifacts stored in the chamber after the time capsule was opened by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He also said the plaque had not been discarded but has been 'properly stored' by the company, though he did not elaborate on its whereabouts. Khairil also denied that the company intended to erase or alter history by removing the plaque, in response to a claim by Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan. He said: 'All actions taken were based on safety considerations, corporate compliance, and a commitment to preserving the legacy of KL Tower.' Khairil added that the plaque featured the tower's old corporate logo and that it cannot be used for official display in line with the skyscraper's rebranding. Earlier today, Wan Saiful reportedly urged communications minister Fahmi Fadzil to explain why the plaque had been removed, saying it should have stayed put since it was meant to commemorate the time capsule planted in 1996. The Tasek Gelugor MP questioned if the government was attempting to erase history, particularly Mahathir's role in planting the time capsule.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
U.S. companies delay impact reports with DEI, ESG under attack
NEW YORK, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Nike has joined a growing list of companies that includes JPMorgan Chase & Co., Constellation Brands Inc. and Akamai Technologies Inc. that are either canceling or delaying publication of their so-called sustainability or corporate impact reports for shareholders. "While companies aren't legally obliged to disclose such information, most S&P 500 members did so in 2024," noted Bloomberg News about the change on Friday. For more than a decade, this is usually the time period when companies tout the steps they're taking to lower carbon emissions and improve the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) of their businesses, said the report. "Opposition to these reports first surfaced about three years ago when GOP lawmakers and activists began pressing companies to scale back such efforts. And some companies have reacted by taking steps such as scrubbing ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI-related words from public documents," it said. The election of President Donald Trump has further empowered the anti-DEI movement. During his first week in the White House, he signed executive orders ending federal diversity programs and restricting gender definition to two sexes, male and female, it added.
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
US-China trade talks to resume in seven days: White House
WASHINGTON: Trade negotiations between US and Chinese officials are expected to resume within seven days, following a phone call between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. The discussions will place particular emphasis on rare earth minerals, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro confirmed on Friday. "We expect that a meeting will take place within seven days," Navarro told reporters at the White House, commenting on the timeline of the next round of trade talks. Navarro stated that Trump has been clear that "the rare earth issue will be key to that negotiation", as reported by Sputnik/RIA Novosti. The US delegation will include Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, according to Navarro. The advisor also mentioned that Thursday's call between Trump and Xi lasted approximately 90 minutes, during which both leaders demonstrated "a very clear understanding" of the expected outcomes of the upcoming discussions. Trump later shared on Truth Social that he had discussed "some of the intricacies" of the US-China trade deal with President Xi. He also announced that he had accepted Xi's invitation to visit China and extended a reciprocal invitation. Following high-level trade and economic talks in Geneva earlier in May, Washington and Beijing agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs by 115 percentage points each for 90 days. The US has reduced tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 per cent to 30 per cent, while China has cut tariffs on American imports from 125 per cent to 10 per cent. Later that month, Trump accused China of "totally violating" the Geneva agreement and remarked that "it is extremely hard" to reach a deal with Beijing.–BERNAMA
