Netanyahu Aide Consulted ChatGPT on Qatar Image Overhaul
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Yonatan Urich, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, consulted ChatGPT in September 2024 on strategies to improve Qatar's global image. Investigators possess records of these consultations, contradicting Urich's claims during questioning that he couldn't recall the discussions and denied promoting Qatar's interests in Israel. Urich had asked the AI for a strategic plan and key messages targeting specific audiences to "whitewash Qatar."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu's advisor Yonatan Urich consulted ChatGPT on improving Qatar's image.
- Investigators have records of Urich's September 2024 consultations with ChatGPT.
- Urich denied acting to advance Qatar's interests in Israel during questioning.
- He asked ChatGPT for a strategic plan and messages to "whitewash Qatar."
- Urich later confirmed the consultations but stated he did nothing with the AI's advice.
Investigators have obtained records of at least two consultations Yonatan Urich, an advisor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, had with ChatGPT. These discussions, held on different dates in September 2024, were aimed at formulating messages to improve Qatar's public image. The findings raise further questions about Urich's testimony during an investigation, where he claimed to have no recollection of the conversations and denied acting to advance Qatar's interests in Israel.
During the investigation, a detective confronted Urich with the chat logs, stating, "From the investigation material, your intentions and actions are learned, among other things from your requests to ChatGPT, which you used several times asking it to build for you 'a strategic plan for global consciousness change' concerning Qatar."
The detective quoted Urich's request to ChatGPT, which indicated an intention to lead a campaign to improve Qatar's image. Urich had asked for additional ideas to improve the image for the Prime Minister and Emir of Qatar, and requested three key messages for target audiences including Israeli citizens, global Jewish communities, and US opinion leaders, to help "whitewash Qatar and improve its image."
Urich responded to investigators, "I don't remember what I asked ChatGPT. I ask it about many topics. I did not act and did nothing for Qatar in Israel, not with the Israeli media, not with Israeli citizens, and not with the Prime Minister." He also stated that he asked ChatGPT about many subjects and did not act on its advice.
Urich later confirmed the publication on X, formerly Twitter, stating that the information had been with many journalists for a long time. He added that none of them found it relevant to report on his ChatGPT queries because he had done nothing with them, a fact he asserted was proven in the investigation.
