Israel Spends Over $45 Million on AI-Driven Campaign to Influence U.S. Public Opinion

In recent months, millions of AI-generated text messages have been sent to American citizens under names like Emma, Sarah, or John, posing as members of a group called "Friends for Peace." These messages ask recipients about the impact of U.S.-Israel peace talks with Iran on global security. A Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that these messages are part of a campaign funded by the Israeli government and promoted by Brad Parscale, a former senior adviser to ex-President Donald Trump. Parscale reportedly receives about $1.5 million monthly, with the total contract exceeding $45 million.

The campaign aims to counter growing negative perceptions of Israel in the U.S., where a Pew Research survey found that approximately 60% of American adults hold unfavorable views of Israel amid conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Israel has engaged at least six companies and dozens of individuals, many registered as foreign agents, to support this effort. Parscale's work includes integrating pro-Israel narratives into Salem Media, a conservative media company hosting popular podcasters, though Salem denies paying hosts to promote specific messages.

The initiative also involves creating websites and social media content designed to influence AI chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT, with the goal of addressing public concerns about Israel and reporting feedback to the Israeli government. Sparkfire, a company contracted for $6.5 million, manages the AI-driven text conversations, claiming human oversight throughout the process. However, the "Friends for Peace" group appears to be a fictitious entity.

Beyond Parscale's efforts, other groups like Show Faith by Works have proposed pro-Israel messaging campaigns targeting millions of Christian churchgoers and students in the U.S. Southwest, with budgets exceeding $3 million. Influencers such as Yoav Davis and evangelical couple Stephanie and Caleb Raus have also been involved in marketing efforts linked to Israel, though some deny direct payments for posts.

Vice President J.D. Vance recently criticized Israel's influence campaign, accusing it of attempting to undermine U.S. negotiations with Iran to prolong conflict. Israel plans to allocate over $700 million in 2026 to expand its global image-shaping initiatives, according to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Israeli officials did not respond to interview requests, while allies argue the campaign is necessary to counter Iranian and pro-Palestinian influence.