OpenAI's report showed how state actors could exploit widely available AI tools to spread sophisticated propaganda against adversaries at scale. (EPA Images pic)

WASHINGTON: OpenAI on Thursday said it shut down two influence operations - from Russia and Iran - that used ChatGPT to push fake journalist personas and run a "think-tank" to covertly peddle anti-Ukraine propaganda.

OpenAI's report is the latest illustration of how state actors can easily exploit widely available AI tools to peddle sophisticated propaganda against adversaries on a mass scale.

The American AI giant said it banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts that originated in Russia and Iran and were used to support "false front" entities for geopolitical and conflict-related messaging.