Russia and China Use AI to Fuel Global Disinformation, OpenAI Reveals
In a new transparency report released this week, OpenAI confirmed that both Russia and China have been running covert disinformation campaigns using generative AI. But while China is expanding its reach, it is Russia’s operations that stand out for their aggression, cynicism, and strategic alignment with military objectives—particularly the war against Ukraine.
Of the ten influence operations identified and dismantled by OpenAI, at least four were linked to China and two to Russia. Yet the Russian campaigns—especially one tied to the infamous “Doppelganger” network—were far more explicit in their objectives: discredit Ukraine, divide NATO, and seed pro-Kremlin narratives into the Western media bloodstream.
Russia’s Doppelganger operation used AI-generated articles, comments, and fake media websites cloned to resemble outlets like CNN, BBC, and Der Spiegel. These sites published content aimed at eroding public support for Ukraine, exaggerating Western fatigue, and portraying NATO as a provocateur. ChatGPT was reportedly used to draft articles, headlines, and reader comments to make these fakes look authentic and viral.
The goal: erode trust in Ukraine’s leadership, cast doubt on Western unity, and muddy the truth with plausible-sounding lies—all while Ukraine defends itself under constant missile attack.
In contrast, China’s operations, while broad and increasingly professionalized, focused more on geopolitical soft power and information shaping. A campaign labeled “Sneer Review” used AI to flood platforms like TikTok, X, and Reddit with critical comments about Taiwan, U.S. foreign policy, and even internal Western debates. One remarkable discovery was the use of AI not only to post content but to write internal performance reviews for the operatives—highlighting just how systematized this has become.
Still, it is Russia that has long pioneered hybrid warfare, and this latest report confirms that Moscow has simply folded generative AI into its broader arsenal of political sabotage. From false narratives about Ukrainian child trafficking to fake petitions targeting NATO generals, Russia’s influence campaigns are inseparable from its military aggression.
Ben Nimmo, OpenAI’s principal investigator, noted that both states are adapting rapidly:
“We’re seeing China and Russia experiment with AI not just to generate content, but to simulate entire ecosystems of online engagement.”
The difference lies in intent. China’s disinformation aims to extend its global influence and suppress criticism. Russia’s aims to break the West—to dismantle alliances, discredit democracies, and prolong the war in Ukraine through confusion and psychological attrition.
OpenAI has since shut down the accounts involved in these campaigns, but the warning is clear.
The line between cyber warfare and information operations is vanishing, and Russia is once again at the forefront—weaponizing lies, deploying them at scale, and hiding behind the veil of plausible deniability that AI now provides.
As Ukraine and its allies fight for truth on the battlefield, they must also fight for it online—where Moscow’s next offensive is just a click away.
