Chinese and North Korean hackers have escalated their use of artificial intelligence (AI) to exacerbate social divisions and influence elections, according to recent findings by Microsoft. The report highlights how Beijing-linked actors deployed generative AI to produce deceptive content, including AI-generated audio clips and videos, to sway public opinion and promote discord in countries like the United States and Taiwan. These efforts included creating fake content to influence elections, such as AI-generated videos featuring a Taiwanese presidential candidate, and disseminating misinformation on geopolitical events through a network of websites in multiple languages.
Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence identified a range of tactics employed by Chinese actors, including the creation of AI-generated news anchors and the promotion of conspiracy theories targeting the United States and other countries. Moreover, Chinese Communist Party-affiliated social media accounts were found impersonating U.S. voters to fuel discord on issues like drug use, immigration, and racial tensions. Despite these efforts, there is limited evidence of their success in swaying public opinion, though the threat remains significant with upcoming elections in multiple countries.
In addition to China’s activities, North Korean actors have also leveraged AI tools to enhance their cyberattacks, particularly targeting cryptocurrency firms and conducting software supply chain attacks to generate revenue for their weapons program. Microsoft’s report identified instances of cryptocurrency heists, spear-phishing, and efforts to undermine alliances between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. Notably, North Korean hackers, referred to as Emerald Sleet, utilized AI large-language models (LLMs) to conduct reconnaissance, draft spear-phishing messages, and troubleshoot technical issues, showcasing the evolving sophistication of cyber threats.
Despite Microsoft’s efforts to address cyber threats, challenges persist, as highlighted by a recent incident where Chinese hackers gained access to the email accounts of senior U.S. officials. Nearly a year later, the tech giant still grapples with understanding how the breach occurred. These developments underscore the growing significance of AI in cyber warfare and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to counteract increasingly sophisticated threats posed by state-sponsored actors like China and North Korea.
