{"rewrite":{"id":"r_17fb29fef2bdea8d49c1b9bf","clusterId":"c_f4586ce8c1b44012b8d8aa8c","slug":"israel-runs-fake-think-tank-to-shape-ai-chatbot-answers","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Israel Runs Fake Think Tank to Shape AI Chatbot Answers","summary":"Responsible Statecraft reports that the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, established in Israel, published nearly 100 articles in just over a week to influence AI chatbots. The outlet calls it not a real think tank. The institute's disclaimer says it was set up for the Israeli Government Advertising Bureau by Piro, a firm that practices \"AI story optimization.\"","whyItMatters":"The reports are designed to appeal to AI chatbots like Claude and Gemini, indicating a new front in influence operations that targets the credibility signals language models rely on.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe Hanover Institute for Public Policy began publishing on August 6, and its articles follow a formula. They open with harmless questions someone might ask a chatbot, cite the same research, and close by linking the issue to rising anti-Semitism. The site mimics a credible American think tank, from its generic name to its layout and color scheme.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePiro, the firm behind the institute, says it creates content aligned with how large language models evaluate credibility. NewsGuard analyst Alice Lee noted the articles carry specific statistics, data, and strong citations, all qualities LLMs value. The Fulbright Program\u0026#39;s Nick Cleveland-Stout said Piro may have received up to $900,000 from the Israeli government, with work subcontracted through Havas Media.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"The Hanover Institute for Public Policy published nearly 100 articles in a week to steer AI chatbot answers. Piro's 'AI story optimization' turns think tank credibility into a manipulation tool.","twitterPost":"The Hanover Institute for Public Policy published 100 articles in a week to shape AI chatbot answers. Piro's 'AI story optimization' weaponizes think tank credibility.","threadsPost":"The Hanover Institute for Public Policy is not a think tank. It was set up for the Israeli Government Advertising Bureau by Piro, a firm that practices 'AI story optimization.' Publishing nearly 100 articles in a week to influence chatbots turns think tank credibility into a manipulation tool.","newsletterBlurb":"Responsible Statecraft reports that Israel established a fake think tank, the Hanover Institute for Public Policy, which published nearly 100 articles in just over a week to influence AI chatbots. The articles are designed to appeal to LLMs like Claude and Gemini, and the firm behind it, Piro, calls the method AI story optimization.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GIGAZINE\",\"url\":\"https://gigazine.net/news/20260818-israel-creates-fake-think-tank-dupe-ai-chatbots/\",\"title\":\"Fake think tank established in Israel to deceive AI chatbots appears, publishing at least 100 articles in just over a week aimed at influencing AI chatbots\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4603,"outputTokens":566,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787054273,"createdAt":"2026-08-18T11:49:58.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-18T11:51:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T11:49:58.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_f4586ce8c1b44012b8d8aa8c","canonicalTitle":"イスラエルでAIチャットボットを欺く目的で設立された偽のシンクタンクが出現、わずか1週間強の間にAIチャットボットに影響を与えることを目的としたと思われる記事を少なくとも100本公開","representativeArticleId":"a_fc0ea7037563635fa3adf913","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-18T08:28:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-18T08:28:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T11:51:45.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"GIGAZINE","url":"https://gigazine.net/news/20260818-israel-creates-fake-think-tank-dupe-ai-chatbots/","title":"イスラエルでAIチャットボットを欺く目的で設立された偽のシンクタンクが出現、わずか1週間強の間にAIチャットボットに影響を与えることを目的としたと思われる記事を少なくとも100本公開"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}