AI company OpenAI has disrupted a minimum of ten malicious AI operations so far this year.
Catching Malicious AI: OpenAI Takes Down Hackers with ChatGPT
- OpenAI takes aim at cyber attacks using ChatGPT
- Russia, China, and Iran found using ChatGPT for nefarious purposes
Just when you think the world of AI can't get any more fascinating, it becomes the target of malicious actors. In a bold move, OpenAI has exposed a series of cyber attacks utilizing their AI platform, ChatGPT, in the first few months of 2025 alone.
In a report titled "Wiping out A.I. mischief: June 2025," OpenAI details the dirty work. The report outlines the dismantling or hindrance of at least 10 employment scams, influence operations, and spam activities that involved the use of ChatGPT.
Surprisingly, these malicious campaigns were primarily traced back to state-sponsored actors affiliated with China, Russia, and Iran.
Aggressive AI Tactics
Four ofthese campaigns, which were traced to China, seem to have operated under the radar, focusing on social engineering, covert influence, and cyber attacks.
One noteworthy campaign called "Sneer Chess" saw malicious actors flooding a popular Taiwanese board game associated with resistance against the Chinese Communist Party with highly critical comments. They then created and published an article claiming the game had faced backlash based on these comments, aimed at discrediting both the game and Taiwanese independence.
Another campaign named "Helgoland Byte" saw Russian actors employing ChatGPT to generate critical content in German concerning the U.S. and NATO. They also generated content about the German 2025 elections. More alarmingly, the group used ChatGPT to identify opposition activists and bloggers, as well as to arrange coordinated social media campaigns and payments.
Stay Informed, Stay Protected
It's more critical than ever to recognize that not everything you encounter online is the creation of a human being. The person engaging you in an online feud could very well be pursuing precisely what they want: engagement, outrage, and division.
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Malicious A.I.: The New Threat
OpenAI's report functions as a wake-up call, highlighting the dangers posed by malicious actors using AI to create chaos and misinformation. With the increase in AI usage, this type of unethical manipulation could become even more prevalent. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and remember that knowledge is power.
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- OpenAI takes action against fraudsters using ChatGPT
Source: OpenAI report "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025"
Additional Insights- Employment scams used ChatGPT to generate fake job applications and interview materials, with the intention of placing people within companies to facilitate cyber attacks or unauthorized access.- Influence campaigns used AI to automate the creation of social media posts and comments, aiming to manipulate public opinion or amplify divisive narratives on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter.- OpenAI reacts to these threats with proactive detection, account bans, and collaboration with industry stakeholders to share threat intelligence and improve collective defense.- The tactics used by malicious actors highlight the need for vigilance, collaboration, and ongoing innovation to counter these threats.
- The world of artificial-intelligence (AI) continues to be a target for malicious actors, as evidenced by OpenAI's disclosure of cyber attacks utilizing their AI platform, ChatGPT, in the first half of 2025.
- In an effort to combat these threats, OpenAI has released a report titled "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," detailing the dismantling or hindrance of various employment scams, influence operations, and spam activities involving ChatGPT.
- Surprisingly, these malicious campaigns were primarily traced back to state-sponsored actors affiliated with China, Russia, and Iran, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance, collaboration, and innovation to counter these threats.
With the increased use of technology, computing, and AI, staying updated on cybersecurity and crime-and-justice news is increasingly important to protect oneself and one's digital world. Sign up to our Pro newsletter to receive all the top insights on these topics.
