svg]:overflow-visible">Listen to article • 0:00 minAs the war in Iran erupted five weeks ago, social media sleuths across Western and Chinese platforms flagged a wave of viral posts detailing equipment at U.S. bases, the movements of American carrier groups, and granular breakdowns of how military aircraft were assembling for strikes on Tehran.The intelligence came from a fast growing new market: Chinese firms — some with links to the People’s Liberation Army — marrying artificial intelligence with open-source data to market information they claim can “expose” the movements of U.S. forces.AdvertisementBeijing has sought to distance itself from any direct involvement in the…