In February 2026, a report highlighted various instances where the company’s tools were exploited for fraudulent schemes and misleading online practices. This troubling trend raises awareness about the misuse of technology in deceptive ways.
Among the highlighted cases were romance scams and so-called “task” scams that typically followed a specific pattern: they lured victims through social media or messaging platforms, fostered emotional connections, and subsequently requested payments. One notable example, dubbed “Operation Date Bait,” saw a network employ AI-generated promotional messages and chatbots to promote a fake dating service targeting young men in Indonesia. Conversations were often shifted to private messaging, encouraging victims to make a series of payments.
Another instance, “Operation False Witness,” involved accounts masquerading as legal experts offering assistance to individuals trying to recover lost funds. As indicated in the report, these perpetrators crafted seemingly formal communications and demanded upfront fees before any purported recovery services were rendered.
The update also discussed several coordinated online campaigns that utilized AI tools for creating articles, social media posts, and comments surrounding geopolitical topics. In some cases, the content appeared across various platforms and in multiple languages. The company noted that engagement levels varied significantly, often depending more on the size and reach of the accounts sharing the content rather than on the utilization of AI itself.
For instance, in “Operation Trolling Stone,” various accounts generated and translated content regarding the arrest of a Russian individual in Argentina. This content was published as articles and comments on Facebook, YouTube, and Medium, an effort characterized by the report as an attempt to create a semblance of grassroots engagement.
Additionally, OpenAI revealed that there were attempts to utilize its models in the planning or documentation of broader online influence campaigns. The company stated that its systems had declined certain requests that were in violation of its policies, noting that some related content circulating online did not appear to have been produced using its tools.
OpenAI reiterated its commitment to monitoring the misuse of its services and cooperating with industry partners and authorities to mitigate fraudulent and deceptive activities involving AI technologies.
Earlier reports from the Qazinform News Agency stated that the Singapore-based cryptocurrency mining firm Bitdeer sold all of its Bitcoin reserves to redirect funding toward projects focused on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
