Consuming news from AI shifts our opinions and reality. Here's how

"What much of this debate has overlooked, however, is that today, AI large language models are increasingly used to write up news summaries, headlines, and content that catch your attention long before traditional content moderation mechanisms can step in. The issue isn't clear-cut cases of misinformation or harmful subject matter going unflagged in the absence of content moderation. What's missing from the discussion is how ostensibly accurate information is selected, framed, and emphasized in ways that can shape public perception."

"Large language models gradually influence the way people form opinions by generating the information that chatbots and virtual assistants present to people over time. These models are now also being built into news sites, social media platforms, and search services, making them the primary gateway to obtain information. Studies show that large language models do more than simply pass along information. Their responses can subtly highlight certain viewpoints while minimizing others, often without users realizing it."

Meta ended its professional fact-checking program, prompting concerns that removing expert oversight could erode trust and reliability when profit-driven platforms self-police. AI large language models increasingly generate news summaries, headlines, and attention-grabbing content before traditional moderation can act. Such models influence opinion formation by supplying information through chatbots, virtual assistants, news sites, social media, and search services that serve as primary information gateways. Empirical studies show that model outputs can emphasize certain viewpoints while downplaying others, exhibiting communication bias that shapes feelings and beliefs regardless of factual accuracy. Benchmark datasets have correlated model outputs with party positions during elections.

Read at Fast Company