A recent report by OpenAI indicates that individuals affiliated with the Chinese government have sought to leverage ChatGPT as part of a strategy to undermine Japanese politician Sanae Takagi. This involvement reportedly includes regular engagement with ChatGPT for editing and organizing documents related to a so-called 'cyber special operation' aimed at discrediting Takagi and advancing a narrative against her. The report highlights an attempt made last October to solicit advice on a plan that involved generating critical comments about Takagi, fabricating complaints against her policies from fake accounts pretending to be foreign residents, and propagating accusations of extremism against her. Despite the refusal of ChatGPT to assist in these efforts, the interactions persisted, indicating a level of sophistication in China's influence tactics.

The report elaborates on the broader context of this influence operation, suggesting that targets extended beyond Takagi to anti-government figures globally, as well as foreign leaders. The activities are characterized as a 'large-scale influence operation,' utilizing various tactics across over 300 foreign social media platforms and involving thousands of accounts. Notably, the strategy has seen varying levels of effectiveness, with many posts related to Takagi seemingly failing to reach their intended audience, according to the report's assessments.

Additionally, OpenAI's findings reveal that while they could neither fully substantiate nor disprove the claims made by the individual seeking advice, there are recognizable elements within the online activities that mirror established tactics associated with organized influence campaigns. The report underscores the concern of utilizing AI technologies such as ChatGPT in the context of political manipulation, reflecting the challenges posed by modern digital platforms in safeguarding political discourse and maintaining integrity against foreign interference.