Russia produced most AI content to sway presidential vote, US intelligence official says

US official says China is using AI for ‘broader influence’, not specifically to sway the outcome of the US election

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Donald Trump supporters at a campaign rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:27am, 24 Sep 2024Updated: 2:43pm, 24 Sep 2024

Russia has generated more AI content to influence the US presidential election than any other foreign power as part of its broader effort to boost Republican candidate Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris, a US intelligence official said on Monday.

The official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), speaking on condition of anonymity, made the comment in a briefing to reporters on the alleged use of artificial intelligence (AI) by Russia and other countries to influence the November 5 vote.

AI content produced by Moscow is “consistent with Russia’s broader efforts to boost the former president’s [Trump] candidacy and denigrate the vice-president [Harris] and the Democratic Party, including through conspiratorial narratives,” he said.

China has been using AI content in an attempt to influence how it is perceived worldwide, but not to sway the outcome of the US election, the official said.

A US official claims Russia’s AI efforts aimed to boost Donald Trump’s candidacy and denigrate Kamala Harris. Photo: AP

“China is using AI in broader influence operations seeking to shape global views of China and amplify divisive US political issues,” the official said. “We are not yet seeing China use AI for any specific operations targeting US election outcomes.”

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia previously has denied interfering in the US election.