OpenAI said it recently uncovered a China-linked influence operation that used ChatGPT accounts to push narratives aimed at shaping debate over U.S. artificial intelligence policy, data center development, tariffs, and even OpenAI itself.

In a report released Wednesday, the artificial intelligence company said it identified two clusters of ChatGPT accounts "likely originating" from China.

One group generated social media comments and images claiming that expanding U.S. data center infrastructure was driving up Americans' electricity costs.

A second cluster produced content criticizing tariffs, including comments and images portraying tariffs as "attempts to dominate technological competition."

According to OpenAI, prompts connected to the operation instructed the AI model to exclude Chinese President Xi Jinping while focusing criticism on President Donald Trump.

OpenAI also said the campaign targeted the company with allegations that user data had been compromised. The firm said it connected social media accounts to the operation and subsequently banned the ChatGPT accounts involved.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington told The Hill they were not familiar with the allegations but "firmly oppose any groundless attacks or smears against China."

The findings come as concerns mount in Washington over potential Chinese efforts to influence America's rapidly expanding AI sector and the massive data center build-out needed to support it.

The report is likely to add fuel to a debate among lawmakers, administration officials and industry leaders who have raised alarms about possible foreign interference in opposition campaigns targeting U.S. data center projects.

Investor Kevin O'Leary drew national attention last month when he suggested foreign actors linked to the Chinese government may be helping fuel backlash against U.S. data centers.

O'Leary said his team detected a surge of online activity targeting his Utah data-center project and found messages linked to identical IP addresses and suspected bot networks.

The concerns have also been echoed by officials in the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress seeking more information about potential foreign influence efforts.

"Any place that's trying to build data centers is getting bombarded with foreign-directed propaganda to try to block these from being built," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox Business late last month.

Last week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., joined Reps. John Joyce, R-Md., and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, in a letter to the FBI and the co-chairs of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology requesting information regarding evidence that "strongly suggests" foreign influence campaigns targeting U.S. data center projects.

"The fact that Chinese Communist Party-backed entities and other foreign adversaries may be attempting to influence decisions related to American data center infrastructure puts into perspective how serious of a fight we are in," the lawmakers wrote.