OpenAI reveals China-linked accounts used ChatGPT to oppose US data centers

OpenAI disclosed on June 10, 2026, that it identified a coordinated campaign involving China-linked accounts that leveraged ChatGPT to produce and disseminate content opposing data center developments in the United States. The operation targeted ongoing public debates surrounding the environmental and economic impacts of data centers, specifically their strain on power grids, rising electricity costs, and water usage. While the campaign was detected, OpenAI assessed that its overall reach and influence remained limited.

This revelation highlights the ongoing risk of generative AI tools being weaponized for foreign influence operations, particularly around contentious infrastructure projects. Data centers have become a flashpoint in local and national discussions as their energy demands grow alongside AI adoption. Although this specific campaign did not achieve wide scale, it underscores the need for robust monitoring and safeguards to prevent AI-driven disinformation from shaping critical policy debates.