Aug 16 (Reuters) -

OpenAI said on Friday it had taken down accounts of an

Iranian group for using its ChatGPT chatbot to generate content

meant for influencing the U.S. presidential election and other

issues.

The operation, identified as Storm-2035, used ChatGPT to

generate content focused on topics such as commentary on the

candidates on both sides in the U.S. elections, the conflict in

Gaza and Israel's presence at the Olympic Games and then shared

it via social media accounts and websites.

Investigation by the Microsoft ( MSFT )-backed AI company

showed that ChatGPT was used for generating long-form articles

and shorter social media comments.

OpenAI said the operation did not appear to have achieved

meaningful audience engagement.

Majority of the identified social media posts received few

or no likes, shares or comments and the company did not see

indications of web articles being shared across social media.

The accounts have been banned from using OpenAI's services

and the company continues to monitor activities for any further

attempts to violate policies, it said.

Earlier in August, a Microsoft ( MSFT ) threat-intelligence report

said Iranian network Storm-2035, comprising four websites

masquerading as news outlets, is actively engaging U.S. voter

groups on opposing ends of the political spectrum.

The engagement was being built with "polarizing messaging on

issues such as the U.S. presidential candidates, LGBTQ rights,

and the Israel-Hamas conflict," the report stated.

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican rival

Donald Trump are locked in a tight race, ahead of the Nov. 5

presidential election.

The AI firm said in May it had disrupted five covert

influence operations that sought to use its models for

"deceptive activity" across the internet.