Kathmandu— Israel is undertaking a campaign costing tens of millions of dollars to improve its image in the United States by influencing how artificial intelligence platforms portray the country and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The effort comes as U.S. public opinion toward Israel has soured, with six in ten adults now viewing the nation unfavorably according to recent polling data. Spearheaded through a network of PR firms and a policy institute, the campaign aims to shape responses from large language models like ChatGPT by providing them with specific informational materials.

Declining US Public Opinion

US public attitudes toward Israel have deteriorated in recent years, initially following its response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and more recently due to the war on Iran and associated costs for American taxpayers. A June Pew Research Center poll revealed that 60% of US adults view Israel unfavorably, a significant increase from 53% in the previous year and 42% in 2022. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also faces low confidence ratings, with 65% of Americans expressing little or no trust in his policies.

The Hanover Institute Campaign

A $100,000 campaign focuses on influencing how large-language models answer questions about Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war. The effort centers around the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, a website that publishes anonymous reports on anti-Semitism and geopolitical issues. While the institute claims its work is academic, filings with the US Justice Department show links between more than a dozen of its articles and a PR campaign designed to “educate” the American public about Israel. The website hosts reports framed as questions – such as ‘Is Torture of Palestinian Prisoners a War Crime?’ – seemingly intended for citation by AI models.

AI Integration and Previous Efforts

Technical markers connect the Hanover Institute’s website to Res, an AI startup that helps clients gain prominence in AI recommendations. Res CEO Hai Tran confirmed this link in an email. This isn't Israel’s first attempt to sway public opinion through AI; a recent investigation revealed a previous $46.5 million campaign led by Havas Media – which handles much of Israel’s US influence work – that included pro-Israel, AI-generated messages targeting Americans. Havas Media also managed an “Influencer Campaign” last fall, allocating $900,000 for producing content favorable to Israel.

Political Shifts and Trump's Position

US political frustration with Israel is growing beyond the general public. Last month, over 100 House Democrats supported an amendment that would have cut $3.3 billion in aid to Israel, though it ultimately failed due to Republican opposition. Former President Donald Trump has been largely supportive of Israel but has publicly criticized Netanyahu, particularly regarding the ceasefire with Iran and his plan for Gaza. Reports indicate Trump has not endorsed Netanyahu’s re-election bid and views him as a political liability.

The campaign highlights an evolving strategy by governments to leverage AI in shaping public discourse and influencing perceptions surrounding geopolitical conflicts.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.