# State Influence Operations Industrialize With AI

State-linked influence operations will keep using commercial and open-weight models to cut content costs while relying on human fronts for reach, so platform takedown reports will recur and become an instrument of labs' positioning with governments.

- Conviction: 39 / 100 (weakening)
- Horizon: Emerging (watchlist)
- Tracking since: 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Last updated: 2026-10-12T14:07:13.413Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/ai/trends/state-influence-ops-run-on-commercial-ai
- Publisher: Polylog
- Affected regions: Global

## Recent score history

- 2026-10-11: 41
- 2026-10-12: 39

## Recent evidence

- [confirms] OpenAI says Russian and Iranian networks used ChatGPT to run fake journalists and a Latin American think tank (2026-10-10): OpenAI's report says Iran's 'Bogus Bylines' placed nearly 100 articles using ChatGPT-made personas, and it introduced a new top-tier severity rating for Russia's operation. Lab takedown reports are recurring and growing more elaborate as a way for labs to position themselves with governments.
- [confirms] OpenAI Bans Russian and Iranian Influence Networks That Used Fake Journalists and a Latin American Think Tank (2026-10-09): OpenAI banned Russian and Iranian influence networks that used its models alongside fake journalists and a Latin American think tank. It rated the Russian operation Category 5 on its six-point scale, the first time it has disrupted one at that level. This fits the pattern of AI-generated content paired with human fronts, with takedown reports recurring.