China may be using AI to sway U.S. voters: Microsoft

Microsoft researchers found Chinese-controlled AI-generated social media accounts attempting to influence U.S. voters. The campaign used generative AI to create content mimicking U.S. voters. Microsoft said the accounts had attempted to appear American and shared politically charged content. The U.S. government has warned of similar campaigns from China, Russia and Iran.

Microsoft researchers said on September 7 they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence U.S. voters by using artificial intelligence.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said that accusations of China using AI to create fake social media accounts were "full of prejudice and malicious speculation" and that China advocates for the safe use of AI.

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In a new research report, Microsoft said the social media accounts were part of a suspected Chinese information operation. The campaign bore similarities to activity that the U.S. Department of Justice has attributed to "an elite group within (China's) Ministry of Public Security," Microsoft said.

The researchers did not specify which social media platforms were affected, but screenshots in their report showed posts from what appeared to be Facebook and Twitter, now known as X.

The report highlights a fraught social media environment as Americans prepare for the 2024 presidential election.

The U.S. government has accused Russia of meddling in the 2016 election with a covert social media campaign and has warned of subsequent efforts by China, Russia and Iran to influence voters.