OpenAI has revealed that it dismantled two covert influence operations originating from Russia and Iran, which exploited its ChatGPT tool to manufacture fake journalist personas and a bogus think tank. The campaigns were designed to spread anti-Ukraine propaganda, stoke division in the United States and Israel over the conflict in the Middle East, and undermine support for Kyiv in Latin America and Europe.
The disclosure, made on Thursday, underscores the growing risk that state actors can weaponise widely available artificial intelligence tools to produce and disseminate sophisticated disinformation at scale. The American company said it had banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts linked to the two operations, which were used to support false front entities for geopolitical messaging.
Iranian operation: fake Western journalists
The Iranian operation involved seven fabricated journalist profiles, each claiming to be based in Western countries, including the United States. These personas were used to place long-form articles in media outlets around the world. OpenAI said it identified nearly 100 articles published or syndicated under the operation's bylines across roughly a dozen online platforms, mostly small to medium-sized outlets focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and events in the Middle East.
The earliest article appeared in July 2025, with the most recent in October 2026. The frequency of publications increased after the outbreak of the US-Iran war earlier this year. The operation also generated social media comments on topics related to the conflict.
One of the personas, Ervin B. Hoskins, claimed to be an American freelance writer and maintained accounts on several tech platforms, including Elon Musk's X and Meta-owned Instagram. Transparency data from X indicated the account was connected via a "West Asia android app," while Instagram's transparency information showed the account was based in Iran, according to screenshots provided by OpenAI. Both accounts appeared to have been suspended.
Russian operation: a front think tank in Latin America
The Russian operation, in contrast, co-opted unwitting individuals in Latin America to run a think tank called the Social Research Center (SRC). The SRC was used for covert activities aimed at tarnishing Ukraine's reputation in the region and influencing local politics. OpenAI noted that the available evidence suggests the SRC's employees in Latin America were not aware they were working for a Russian group.
"The SRC appears to have produced a majority of original content via its co-opted staff. This stands out as the most complex attempt to run a front identity that we've disrupted over the past two and a half years," the company said.
The operators used ChatGPT to write internal reports on their activities, create content for their operations, and draft performance reports on the think tank. They also used the tool to design and produce texts for social media posts and comments.
Among the social media activity, OpenAI cited reactions to Polish far-right MEP Grzegorz Braun's proposal that people showing "anti-Polishness" be declared persona non grata in Poland. This was an attempt to sow divisions in Poland over the country's support for Ukraine, a topic that has been particularly sensitive given the ongoing war. The operation's efforts to exploit such tensions are part of a broader pattern of Russian interference, as seen in the EU's recent expansion of sanctions in response to hybrid threats.
The revelations come amid heightened concerns about Russian disinformation campaigns across Europe. For instance, pro-Russian hackers have targeted the Italian foreign ministry in a DDoS attack, and a Royal Navy sailor has been charged with spying for Russia. These incidents highlight the multifaceted nature of Russian hybrid warfare, which extends beyond military aggression to include cyberattacks and information manipulation.
OpenAI's action is part of its broader efforts to counter the misuse of its AI models. The company has previously disrupted similar operations, but the complexity of the Russian front think tank marks a new level of sophistication. As AI tools become more accessible, the challenge of detecting and mitigating such influence operations is likely to intensify, requiring continued vigilance from tech companies and governments alike.
