OpenAI revealed that China-linked actors utilized ChatGPT to create material designed to sway discussions over US tariffs and the accelerated expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, prompting a bipartisan congressional leader to accuse China of attempting to take advantage of America’s open political system.

Rep. John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, highlighted the findings and stated that the Chinese government was attempting to sway valid public debates in the United States.

There are legitimate concerns about data centres, and Americans deserve answers as businesses strive to create the infrastructure necessary for our nation’s future. Moolenaar stated that we are fortunate to live in a free and open society where we can debate these issues.

Sadly, the Chinese Communist Party uses its United Front organizations and other organizations to split Americans and take advantage of our openness. He continued by saying that “some components in China” are attempting to divide Americans over the construction of data centres through more concealed techniques, and that “its state-run media has explicitly released English-language content seeking to do so. “

According to OpenAI’s threat report for June 2026, the business blocked two clusters of ChatGPT accounts that were probably from China after they used the platform to advocate what it termed secret influence campaigns aimed at discussions over American AI policy and technology competition.

According to it, the first initiative, named the Data Center Bandwagon campaign, sparked social media postings and images that asserted AI data centers were raising power costs for average Americans.

OpenAI stated that the material was disseminated using social media profiles that were probably fake and intended to raise awareness of growing energy expenditures associated with AI infrastructure.

The second operation, which was known as the Tech and Tariffs campaign, resulted in political cartoons and remarks that condemned US tariffs and depicted Washington as vying for tech supremacy.

OpenAI stated that operators explicitly told the system to only show President Donald Trump and to avoid any allusions to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to the report, certain networks also propagated untrue allegations about ChatGPT user data being compromised. These allegations are untrue, according to OpenAI.

OpenAI said that the campaigns had minimal internet influence. The firm determined that the social media campaigns had no genuine participation and no proof of significant breakout beyond their own operations.

However, the company cautioned that the narratives being tested were what made the activities important. The campaigns, it claimed, tried to link US technology policies to economic worries and public issues while introducing foreign entities into current domestic discussions about AI, energy expenses, and technical rivalry.

Moolenaar stated that his panel will carry on looking at prospective foreign influence activities related to the growth of data centers.

He said, “I hope that all Americans engaged in these discussions would treat one another with respect, and my committee and I will keep looking into any Chinese malign influence in the data center controversy.”

The report is released at a time when China and the United States’ rivalry in the field of artificial intelligence is heating up.

In order to foster economic expansion and protect national security, both nations are making considerable investments in AI infrastructure, cutting-edge computing capabilities, and next-generation technologies. These are becoming more and more crucial.