Will countries employ AI to bring about an apocalypse?

Governments around the globe are utilizing artificial intelligence to spread disinformation, representing a profound ethical violation with severe consequences for both freedom and truth internationally.

The deployment of AI by nation-states for disinformation purposes poses significant threats to individual thought, democratic elections, and the autonomy of nations against hostile influences. Various governments are leveraging this technology to maintain a state of uncertainty among their citizens.

For example, Taiwan has alleged that China is using generative AI to flood the island with misleading information. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau claims this tactic aims to fracture public opinion, viewing it as a direct challenge to its sovereignty.

A report submitted to Taiwan’s parliament indicated that over 500,000 “controversial messages” have already been identified in 2025, predominantly shared on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok.

The report asserted that as AI technology evolves, the Chinese Communist Party has increasingly employed AI tools to generate and distribute provocative content.

Instances of nation-states leveraging AI for deceptive purposes are widespread.

In 2024, Russia’s state-affiliated Pravda Network bombarded the internet with 3.6 million fabricated articles aimed at steering AI algorithms toward pro-Kremlin narratives and manipulating public sentiment. Russia evidently sees AI as a means to advance its propaganda, even targeting citizens of the United States.

Furthermore, during Taiwan’s 2024 elections, operations orchestrated from China employed AI-generated deepfake videos to disseminate falsehoods, including fictional accounts about the departing leader Tsai Ing-wen. Microsoft noted this as the first documented case of a nation utilizing AI to sway a foreign election result.

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Iran harnessed AI-driven trolls to execute targeted disinformation initiatives designed to disrupt U.S. democratic mechanisms. This led to charges against two Iranian nationals for engaging in cyber-enabled disinformation efforts.

In 2023, state media in Venezuela utilized AI technologies to create deepfake videos featuring AI-generated news anchors for a fabricated English-language channel, aiming to promote pro-government narratives and enhance the regime’s image both domestically and internationally.

During Slovakia’s 2023 election, audio generated by AI falsely represented a conversation between a journalist and the leader of the Progressive Slovakia party discussing election interference. This deepfake circulated before the elections and is believed to have contributed to the party’s electoral defeat.

The United States is reportedly involved in similar endeavors, as China has alleged a public investment in “cognitive warfare.” The Chinese government claims that AI bot networks are propagating false information to damage its reputation.

The implications of nation-states using AI to meddle in the political affairs of other countries are troubling. This presents a significant infringement on personal freedoms by influencing individuals’ thoughts and choices. By using AI as a propaganda tool, governments can extend their control while curtailing personal rights.

When AI is utilized in this way, it jeopardizes the open exchange of ideas. It hinders discourse by imposing government narratives, thus distorting democratic processes and obstructing genuine electoral results.

This misuse of AI by authorities exemplifies the exploitation of power, with the potential for governments to deceive not only their own citizens but also foreign populations into accepting falsehoods. This trajectory poses a significant risk of descending into authoritarianism.

Spreading misinformation among the populace constitutes a form of coercion, and it is crucial for citizens to recognize this tactic and resist the deceptive maneuvers employed by their governments.