$45 Million AI Messages: Inside the 'Don Quixote' Influence Operation in the U.S.
After Time reported that the government paid a former Trump advisor to influence American public opinion, a Wall Street Journal investigation reveals new details of the multi-million-dollar contract. The AI-generated messages sent to citizens, the…
Assessment
A Wall Street Journal investigation reveals the scale and methods of a $45 million Israeli government influence campaign targeting American public opinion, using AI-generated texts, websites designed to sway ChatGPT, and recruitment of celebrities like Chris Pratt and Steph Curry. The story follows a Time report that the government paid a former Trump adviser, and the new details suggest a sophisticated, multi-pronged operation. The key question is whether this campaign crossed legal or ethical lines in its attempt to shape U.S. discourse, and what consequences might follow for U.S.-Israel relations.