(NewsNation) — The growing use of artificial intelligence by foreign adversaries to influence public opinion poses a serious threat to U.S. national security, according to national security analyst Mehek Cooke and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who warned that Americans are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated online propaganda campaigns.
Speaking on “Katie Pavlich Tonight,” Cooke said foreign influence operations have evolved from traditional espionage and disinformation tactics into AI-driven efforts that can infiltrate media outlets and shape public narratives at unprecedented speed.
“They’re manipulating our people and using us as pawns,” Cooke said. “This has to put a stop to it because AI is now being manipulated and it’s faster and it’s cheaper.”
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Cooke’s comments came after reports that Iranian-linked operatives allegedly used artificial intelligence tools and fake journalist personas to place articles in media outlets as part of an influence campaign. According to OpenAI, nearly 100 articles attributed to seven fabricated journalists appeared across roughly a dozen online publications worldwide.
According to reporting by CNN, OpenAI said the operation used ChatGPT accounts to generate and refine articles, pitch editors and create social media comments designed to amplify anti-American narratives surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict.
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Clark said the challenge extends beyond Iran and reflects a broader effort by multiple foreign powers to influence democratic societies through online information campaigns.
“You can’t have a democracy, you can’t have an effective foreign policy if your own citizenry don’t know what the difference between the truth and a lie,” Clark said.
The retired NATO commander argued that combating AI-generated propaganda will require a wider public effort focused on media literacy and information awareness, warning that democracies become vulnerable when citizens struggle to distinguish authentic reporting from manipulated content.
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“It’s called cognitive hacking,” Clark said. “They’re all coming into the United States to manipulate public opinion.”
Clark also questioned whether America’s increasing political polarization is being intensified by foreign influence operations from countries including Iran, Russia and China. He said policymakers and technology companies must confront the growing risk posed by AI-generated misinformation before it further undermines public trust.
The concerns echo broader discussions about AI and information security. NewsNation previously reported on the importance of human oversight in artificial intelligence systems after experts warned that inaccurate AI-generated information can have significant real-world consequences.
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