Foreign Affairs op-ed warns US is 'blinding itself' to AI-driven propaganda
Josh A. Goldstein of Georgetown's CSET and Renée DiResta argue in a Foreign Affairs op-ed that artificial intelligence is speeding up and widening the reach of global propaganda, while Washington is "blinding itself to the challenge." The piece was published on October 5, 2026.
- CSET's Josh A. Goldstein and Renée DiResta published an op-ed in Foreign Affairs on October 5, 2026.
- The piece examines how governments combine propaganda, social media, covert networks, influencers and AI in influence operations.
- The authors write that Washington is "blinding itself to the challenge" as AI spreads propaganda faster and wider.
- The op-ed follows earlier Goldstein work on Meta's threat report, OpenAI's misuse report and AI-generated spam.
What the op-ed examines
According to CSET, the article looks at how foreign influence operations are changing as governments mix several tools. These include traditional propaganda, social media, covert networks, influencers and artificial intelligence. The aim, as CSET describes it, is to shape public opinion across multiple platforms.
The central point is that these methods are increasingly integrated rather than used separately. In the op-ed, DiResta and Goldstein write: "As AI accelerates the spread and expands the reach of global propaganda, Washington is blinding itself to the challenge."
A line of earlier work on AI and influence
The op-ed builds on a series of related pieces by Goldstein that CSET lists alongside it. They show a steady focus on how online influence and AI intersect.
- December 2024: In an op-ed for Tech Policy Press, Goldstein discussed Meta's quarterly threat report. According to CSET, the report highlighted the discovery of five networks of fake accounts from Moldova, Iran, Lebanon, and two from India.
- June 2024: Goldstein and DiResta wrote in MIT Technology Review about OpenAI's first report on the misuse of its generative AI, under the headline "Propagandists are using AI too, and companies need to be open about it."
- May 2024: NPR drew on Goldstein's insights for an article on the surge of AI-generated spam on Facebook and other social media platforms.
- March 2024: The Financial Times consulted Goldstein for a piece on the rapid rise of AI-generated conspiracy theories and spam content on social media.
What it means
The CSET summary does not set out specific policy proposals, and the full argument is available only in the Foreign Affairs op-ed itself. What the summary does make clear is the authors' concern: influence campaigns are becoming more varied and more connected, AI is amplifying them, and in the authors' view the US government is not facing the problem squarely.
For readers following AI policy and platform integrity, the op-ed adds to a growing body of commentary that treats AI-assisted propaganda as a live issue rather than a future risk. Readers who want the authors' full reasoning and any recommendations should consult the original article.
CSET Georgetown: The Triumph of Tech-Fueled Propaganda
