Getting Started with Digital Influence Operations
State and non-state actors alike have become adept at using influence operations in the ever-changing digital landscape. The geopolitical powerhouse Iran has been making more and more use of these operations to further its own strategic goals. Examining how Iran uses AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT to manipulate public opinion and further their geopolitical goals, this essay explores the complexities of Iranian influence operations.
Historical Background on the Development of Iranian Influence Operations
It is nothing new for Iran to be involved in influence efforts. From more conventional news outlets to more modern social media, the Iranian government has always used a wide variety of tools to spread its message. Its larger goal is to challenge Western narratives and preserve its power in the Middle East, of which these operations are a component. More targeted and scalable influence campaigns are now possible because to AI, which has elevated these endeavors to a new level.
Application of Artificial Intelligence
Influence operations have been completely transformed by AI technology, especially NLP models such as ChatGPT. Using these resources, Iranian performers may make content that is both believable and popular with their intended viewers. Because they can generate content that blends in with real talk and imitate human-like discussions, these AI-driven campaigns are more efficient and harder to detect.
Effecting Operations Capabilities and Applications with OpenAI’s ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT ranks among the best natural language processing models currently available. Influence operations can greatly benefit from its ability to produce cohesive, contextually relevant material. Reportedly, Iranian actors have taken to ChatGPT to spread disinformation, magnify controversial narratives, and even have direct conversations with social media users.
Examples: Ads Driven by AI
It has been shown that ChatGPT and other AI technologies were utilized in influence operations that were thought to have originated from Iran on multiple occasions. An integral part of these tactics is the creation of fictitious social media accounts that impersonate genuine people in order to disseminate Iranian-friendly material. These activities demonstrate how AI can change the digital influence environment through its efficiency and sheer size.
Potential Dangers to Democracies and Their Role in International Security
All around the globe, democratic institutions are in grave danger from the use of artificial intelligence in influence operations. Destabilizing governments, sowing conflict among communities, and undermining faith in democratic institutions are all possible outcomes of these operations’ manipulation of public opinion. Because AI can generate material on a massive scale, these concerns aren’t limited to just one area; they affect the entire world.
Responses from policymakers and countermeasures
Governments and tech corporations must create strong responses to the increasing danger of influence operations driven by artificial intelligence. Some examples of this include working together on a global scale to control the use of AI in information warfare, creating detection tools for AI, and making social media algorithms more transparent. The international community can lessen the impact of state-sponsored influence operations if it remains vigilant and takes preventative measures.
What Artificial Intelligence and Other Technologies Will Bring to Influence Operations in the Future
Future influence efforts will likely be considerably more complex as AI develops further. Deepfakes and other reality-defying multimedia content will likely be within the capabilities of future AI models. For individuals responsible for protecting against these kinds of operations, this means more obstacles.
Moral Issues to Think About
It would be a grave error to use AI in influence operations without first considering the ethical consequences. A thin line separates the useful applications of artificial intelligence in communication from their potentially harmful counterparts. Universally accepted ethical principles must regulate the creation and implementation of AI systems.
Finding Your Way Through the Difficulties of the AI Age: A Conclusion
A major change in the way information warfare is carried out has occurred with the incorporation of AI into influence operations. We must reply with the same level of expertise as the Iranian community and other state-sponsored institutions as they continue to utilize these technologies. It will be easier to face the problems that are ahead if we know what artificial intelligence can and cannot do
