(United States, 10th) US media report that state actors such as China and Russia are attempting to exploit debates among the American public regarding the impact of artificial intelligence, stoking confrontation and intensifying divisions.
The New York Times reported Thursday (July 9) that recently, a Chinese state media outlet published a satellite image of a data center in Gainesville, Virginia, and posted in English that the development of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a threat to the health and property safety of Americans.
This year, a series of comic strips circulated on the X platform appearing to be published by a Maryland news outlet, blamed soaring electricity bills on data centers. In the comic, a tycoon with a cigar clutches several bags of cash. AI technology company OpenAI said the comic strips were created by individuals in China using the ChatGPT tool.
On the X platform, there was also a video shared by a known Russian covert influence organization, raising doubts about an AI data center being built by an American company called "Firebird" in Armenia.
On the X platform, there was also a video shared by a known Russian covert influence organization, raising doubts about an AI data center being built by an American company called "Firebird" in Armenia.
Armenia is a small country in the Caucasus region and has long been a target of Kremlin pressure. The video's narration said: "The country's power grid is unstable, which could render this data center useless."
These cases all demonstrate that foreign powers are trying to capitalize on the intense—and sometimes nearly hostile—mentality among the US and other publics regarding the expansion of AI data centers.
According to a recent analysis by threat intelligence company Alethea, China, Russia, and to a lesser degree Iran, have been trying to use official media to frame US debates around AI data centers as “internal rifts within the country.” Since the start of this year, Alethea has identified dozens of related articles and posts on social media.
These cases all demonstrate that foreign powers are trying to capitalize on the intense—and sometimes nearly hostile—mentality among the US and other publics regarding the expansion of AI data centers.
According to a recent analysis by threat intelligence company Alethea, China, Russia, and to a lesser degree Iran, have been trying to use official media to frame US debates around AI data centers as “internal rifts within the country.” Since the start of this year, Alethea has identified dozens of related articles and posts on social media.
The actual impact of these actions on public opinion remains to be seen, but they have already sounded the alarm in Washington. AI has become a major issue in the US midterm elections this November.
The report states that the actions of these foreign powers seem aimed at intensifying debates about AI data centers—a debate that already involves progressive Democratic senator Sanders, and Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Trump, among individuals from different political camps.
Brant, a former official at the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence responsible for tracking foreign influence during the Biden administration, said: “Foreign powers aren’t manufacturing the US debate about the future of AI out of thin air—they’re merely exploiting it.”
Brant said their aim is “to deepen divisions among us, weaken our appeal, and undermine us from within.”