Washington: A bipartisan U.S. congressional leader on Wednesday accused China of trying to exploit America's open political system after OpenAI disclosed that accounts likely linked to China used ChatGPT to push content aimed at influencing U.S. debates over tariffs and the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said Beijing was attempting to sway legitimate public discussion in the United States.
“There are legitimate questions about data centres, and Americans deserve answers as companies work to build the infrastructure we need for our nation's future,” Moolenaar said. “Unfortunately, the Chinese Communist Party exploits our openness and works to divide Americans through its United Front organisations and other entities.”
OpenAI’s June 2026 threat report said the company banned two clusters of ChatGPT accounts “likely originating from China” after they were used in covert influence operations targeting debates on American AI policy and technology competition.
One operation, dubbed the “Data Centre Bandwagon” campaign, produced social media comments and images claiming AI data centres were causing higher electricity costs for ordinary Americans. The material was distributed through likely inauthentic accounts to amplify concerns about rising energy bills tied to AI infrastructure, OpenAI said.
A second effort, the “Tech and Tariffs” campaign, generated comments and political cartoons criticising U.S. tariffs and portraying Washington as pursuing technological dominance. OpenAI said operators told the system to depict only President Donald Trump and to avoid mentioning Chinese President Xi Jinping.
OpenAI also reported that some of the same networks spread false claims that ChatGPT user data had been compromised, a claim the company said was “entirely false.”
The company said the campaigns appeared to have had little impact, noting they received “no authentic engagement” and showing “no evidence of meaningful breakout beyond its own activity.” Nonetheless, OpenAI warned the operations were significant for the narratives they tested, linking U.S. technology policy to economic anxieties while inserting foreign actors into domestic debates over AI, energy costs and technological competition.
Moolenaar said his committee will continue investigating potential Chinese influence in debates over data centre development and urged participants in those discussions to treat one another respectfully.
The disclosure comes amid intensifying U.S.-China competition in artificial intelligence, as both nations invest heavily in AI infrastructure, advanced computing and other next-generation technologies seen as vital to economic growth and national security.
(Inputs from IANS)