OpenAI- and Palantir-Linked Super PAC Pays TikTok Influencers to Frame Chinese AI as a Threat

The Campaign Exposed

Wired revealed that Build American AI, a nonprofit linked to a $100 million super PAC funded by executives from OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz, is running a coordinated social media influence campaign. Wired learned of it after the publication was approached directly by SM4, the influencer marketing agency running the campaign, and later confirmed details with other creators who received similar pitches.

Two-Phase Playbook

Phase one used lifestyle influencers to promote American AI innovation with positive messaging. Phase two, currently active, shifts entirely to China — influencers are offered $5,000 per TikTok video to spread messaging framing China AI rise as a serious threat to American safety, personal data, and jobs.

Scripted Messaging

Sample content provided to creators reads: "I just learned that China is trying really hard to beat the US in AI. If they do, it could mean that China gets personal data from me and my kids, and take jobs that should be here in the US. In the AI innovation race, Im Team USA!"

Industry Reaction

Critics from the open-source AI community note the campaign coincides with legislative debates over restricting access to Chinese open-weight AI models — raising concerns that dark-money influence operations are actively shaping which AI tools developers worldwide can access.