OpenAI · GPT-4o System Card (PDF)

Persuasion and Influence Operations Risk

Medium severity
Share 𝕏 Share in Share 🔒 PDF

What it is

OpenAI found that GPT-4o can help bad actors run large-scale influence and disinformation campaigns, and rated this a 'medium' risk under their own framework — not severe enough to block release but serious enough to disclose.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

GPT-4o can be used to generate persuasive content at scale for influence operations, meaning everyday users of news, social media, and online information may encounter AI-generated disinformation created with GPT-4o assistance without knowing it.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Persuasion and Influence Operations Risk and similar clauses.

Compare across platforms →
Need full compliance memos? See Professional →

Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

AI-powered influence operations at scale threaten democratic processes, public health information, and social trust — and GPT-4o's rating as 'medium' risk in this category means it is capable of meaningful assistance to such campaigns.

View original clause language
We evaluated GPT-4o for its potential to enable one individual or small group to exert undue influence over many people by creating or distributing persuasive content at scale... We assessed GPT-4o to be Medium risk per our Preparedness Framework for this category... The model has the potential to meaningfully assist those seeking to conduct influence operations, but the level of assistance provided does not meet our threshold for Critical risk.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates FTC Act Section 5 (deceptive practices involving AI-generated persuasive content), the EU AI Act Article 5(1)(a) (prohibition on subliminal manipulation techniques) and Article 50 (transparency for AI-generated content), the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) risk assessment obligations for very large online platforms that may host GPT-4o-generated content, and FEC regulations on AI-generated political advertising. The FTC, EU AI Office, and FEC have relevant enforcement authority. (2)

🔒

Compliance intelligence locked

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

Watcher $9.99/mo Professional $149/mo

Watcher: regulatory citations. Professional: full compliance memo.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC Section 5 authority covers deceptive practices including AI-generated persuasive content used to manipulate consumers at scale.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
GPT-4o System Card (PDF)
Entity
OpenAI
Document last updated
March 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 10, 2026
Last verified
April 27, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003146
Document ID
CA-D-00008
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
7c23ef53467eea199596abe78511d57ffee1e94b50ef10ac0f7d81df278b5059
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: OpenAI | Document: GPT-4o System Card (PDF) | Record: CA-P-003146
Captured: 2026-03-10 03:40:55 UTC | SHA-256: 7c23ef53467eea19…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openai/gpt-4o-system-card-pdf/persuasion-and-influence-operations-risk/
Accessed: May 2, 2026
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

Other provisions in this document