As the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections begins at midnight, a significant controversy has surfaced involving allegations of foreign interference using artificial intelligence. OpenAI, the developer of the AI portal 'ChatGPT', has accused an Israeli agency named 'STOIC' of attempting to influence the election outcomes.

OpenAI has claimed that the Israeli agency STOIC created and disseminated content designed to manipulate public opinion in India. This campaign, allegedly initiated in early May, initially targeted English-speaking audiences in India but later expanded to include content in Hebrew, aimed at people in Canada, the United States, and Israel.

According to OpenAI, the covert operations involved producing and editing content shared across various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and websites. The content focused on highlighting and exaggerating differences between Indian political parties, particularly between the BJP and its rivals. The agency aimed to stoke internal conflicts and influence political opinions in favor of Israel.

The monitoring by OpenAI revealed that STOIC sought to manipulate public discourse by emphasizing anti-BJP sentiments and supporting Congress. This manipulation included fostering Hindu-Muslim divisions and countering anti-Israeli rhetoric in India. The AI-generated content often praised certain views to encourage supporters while attacking opposing perspectives to deepen societal rifts.

Upon discovering STOIC's activities, OpenAI reportedly intervened in early May to halt the interference in the Lok Sabha elections. OpenAI's actions were aimed at preventing the manipulation of Indian voters through deceptive AI-generated content.

The allegations have sparked a strong reaction from the ruling BJP. Union Electronics and Technology Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar condemned the alleged foreign interference, calling it a serious threat to Indian democracy. He suggested that some Indian political parties might be complicit in this misinformation campaign.

"It is very clear that the BJP is being targeted through misinformation and foreign interference by some Indian political parties or on their behalf, which is very dangerous for the country's democracy," Chandrasekhar stated.

As the vote counting progresses, the political atmosphere in India is charged with anticipation and controversy. The results of the world's largest democratic exercise will become clearer by Tuesday afternoon, determining whether the BJP alliance or the Congress-led coalition will govern in Delhi. This election, already significant due to its scale, now faces the additional challenge of addressing allegations of foreign interference through sophisticated AI technology.