The New Frontier of AI in Geopolitics
The U.S. government is increasingly concerned about how China is leveraging artificial intelligence to monitor and manipulate public opinion, effectively creating a new weapon for information warfare. According to current and former U.S. officials and documents reviewed by researchers, Chinese companies with expertise in AI are being used to conduct these campaigns.
While American spy agencies have monitored this activity for signs of influence operations in the U.S., China’s approach to information warfare is becoming more sophisticated and efficient. The use of AI allows these operations to be conducted far faster, more efficiently, and on a larger scale than ever before, marking a new frontier in the geopolitical landscape of espionage and influence.
GoLaxy’s Influence Campaigns and Data Collection
Internal documents from one Chinese technology company, GoLaxy, reveal how it has undertaken influence campaigns in key regions. The company’s work has been documented in Hong Kong, where it sought to counter opposition to the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law. It has also conducted similar campaigns in Taiwan.
Furthermore, the documents show that GoLaxy has collected data on influential Americans, including members of Congress. While there is no evidence that the firm has launched a full-scale campaign in the United States, its activities are under close observation by American intelligence services for any signs that it might attempt to influence American elections or political debates in the future.
AI as a Force Multiplier for China
Historically, the Chinese government has struggled to conduct effective information operations targeting other countries, often lacking the aggressiveness and tactical effectiveness of agencies like those in Russia. However, U.S. officials and experts believe that advancements in artificial intelligence could help China overcome these weaknesses.
A new technology can now track public debates and broader public sentiment on issues of interest to the Chinese government. This provides the capability to not only monitor individuals and their arguments but also to mass-produce propaganda tailored to counter shifts in public opinion, both at home and abroad. This gives China a powerful tool to shape narratives and influence perception on a scale previously unimaginable.
U.S. Government’s Retreat from Counter-Influence Efforts
China’s emerging capabilities come at a time when the U.S. government is scaling back its efforts to counter foreign malign influence campaigns. While U.S. spy agencies continue to collect intelligence on foreign manipulation, the Trump administration has dismantled key teams responsible for warning the public about potential threats.
This includes teams at the State Department, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. These teams played a crucial role in the last presidential election, where they identified and exposed campaigns involving Russian videos denigrating Vice President Kamala Harris and falsely claiming that ballots had been destroyed. The dismantling of these teams creates a potential vulnerability, leaving the public more susceptible to sophisticated foreign influence operations.
The Technological Capabilities of GoLaxy
The technology utilized by GoLaxy is said to go beyond the traditional election influence campaigns that have been attributed to Russia in recent years. While the documents do not specify the exact methods, they suggest a more advanced, AI-driven approach.
This includes the ability to track public debates, monitor the arguments of key individuals, and adapt messaging in real-time. This sophisticated technology promises to be a game-changer in information warfare, enabling a level of precision and speed that was previously unattainable. However, the internal documents do not provide clear evidence of the effectiveness of GoLaxy’s campaigns in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or within China, or whether the technology can fully deliver on its promises.
GoLaxy’s Response and Official Denial
In response to the information presented by The New York Times, GoLaxy released a statement denying the claims. The company refuted allegations that it was creating a “bot network or psychological profiling tour” or that it had conducted any work related to elections in Hong Kong or elsewhere. GoLaxy described the information published by the newspaper as “misinformation.”
The firm asserted that its products are “mainly based on open-source data, without specially collecting data targeting U.S. officials.” This official denial highlights the intense scrutiny and sensitivity surrounding the use of AI by state-affiliated entities for geopolitical purposes, particularly in the context of information warfare and foreign influence operations.
The Ethical Dilemma of AI in Information Warfare
The use of AI in information warfare raises significant ethical and security dilemmas. The technology’s ability to mass-produce propaganda and manipulate public sentiment with unprecedented speed and scale challenges democratic principles of free and open discourse. On one hand, AI offers powerful tools for governments to monitor and analyze public opinion. On the other hand, its potential for misuse in generating disinformation and undermining political processes poses a severe threat to national security and civil liberties. The tension between leveraging AI for defense and preventing its use for offense will be a central challenge for policymakers in the coming years.
A New Era of State-Sponsored Influence
The unearthing of documents and statements from U.S. officials reveal a new era of state-sponsored influence, where the Chinese government is utilizing AI expertise to advance its information warfare capabilities. This shift is particularly concerning as the U.S. is simultaneously pulling back from its own efforts to counter such campaigns.
The technologies, as exemplified by a company like GoLaxy, offer unprecedented speed and scale for monitoring and manipulating public opinion. This development highlights the growing importance of AI in geopolitical conflicts and the urgent need for governments to adapt their defenses to a new generation of sophisticated, AI-driven threats.
Read more: China’s Strategic Alliances: Forging AI Independence and Domestic Tech Dominance
