Build American AI Pays Influencers to Counter Chinese AI

The nonprofit Build American AI, which is linked to a tech-backed political fundraising network, is reportedly funding a two-phase campaign to pay social media influencers to promote American artificial intelligence. The strategy begins by integrating positive mentions of U.S. AI into general lifestyle content before transitioning into explicit warnings about the risks posed by Chinese advancements.

Under this framework, creators are urged to frame China's AI progress as a direct threat to U.S. national security, data privacy, and employment. Some marketing agencies allegedly offered creators thousands of dollars per video and provided scripts that link mundane daily activities to these specific political messages.

While several influencers participated in the campaign, others declined the offers due to the political nature of the advocacy. The initiative has drawn criticism from experts who argue that the campaign blurs the line between independent content and paid political messaging, particularly because the funding sources were not always transparently disclosed to audiences.