Dark-Money Group Launches Influencer Campaign to Frame Chinese AI as a National Threat
A coordinated initiative pays lifestyle and political figures to promote US innovation while characterising China's technological rise as a danger to safety and democracy
Build American AI, a dark-money nonprofit organisation, is funding a coordinated social media campaign designed to promote American artificial intelligence innovation while explicitly framing China's technological rise as a threat to US safety, jobs, and democracy. The initiative compensates lifestyle and political influencers to disseminate this messaging on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, operating with undisclosed funding that bypasses standard journalistic ethical standards.
The campaign is executed by the influencer marketing agency SM4, which is pitching deals to content creators to amplify specific narratives linking Chinese AI advancement to risks regarding personal data, job displacement, and national security. A staffer from the agency stated the goal is to subtly shift public debate by emphasising that beating China in the AI race is vital for American security. Sample messaging provided to creators includes lines warning that if China leads in AI, it could result in the loss of personal data and domestic employment.
The financial backing for this effort comes from Leading the Future, a $100 million super PAC linked to Build American AI. As of April, the super PAC reported having $51 million available to spend from a total of $140 million in contributions and commitments. The PAC lists supporters including Greg Brockman, president and cofounder of OpenAI, and Joe Lonsdale and Alex Karp, cofounders of Palantir, though the group describes itself as a massive political war chest for the AI industry.
Despite the super PAC listing these executives as supporters, both OpenAI and Palantir have issued statements denying direct corporate affiliation or funding contributions to Build American AI or Leading the Future. OpenAI stated it has provided no funding or support to the groups, while Palantir confirmed it has not contributed to either organisation. Perplexity and Andreessen Horowitz declined to comment on the matter.
The campaign operates in two phases, with the current phase specifically targeting anti-China narratives ahead of the 2026 US midterms. Polling indicates that 38 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 regularly consume news from influencers, making this demographic a primary target for the strategy. The initiative seeks to extend beyond initial lifestyle influencers to include political commentators and business leaders, instructing them to discuss the importance of American AI while engaging in everyday activities.
Critics argue that attempting to warp the information ecosystem through undisclosed political messaging is corrosive to democracy. Media scholars note that while influencers may label posts as advertisements, they often fail to disclose the specific agenda or the source of the funding, leaving the public unaware that they are absorbing political messaging from corporate interests. As AI becomes a key issue in the upcoming election, these groups aim to counter growing public concerns about data centres and job displacement by promoting an all-of-the-above communications strategy.
