The New York TimesThe New York Times

Disinformation researchers raise alarms about AI chatbots

By Tiffany Hsu and Stuart A. Thompson

08 Feb 2023 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

Spreading fake news is about to get easier—and cheaper—thanks to AI chatbots, the NYT reports. As a result, we may well end up with even more conspiracy theorists and spreaders of disinformation.

Soon after ChatGPT debuted last year, researchers tested what the artificial-intelligence chatbot would write after it was asked questions peppered with conspiracy theories and false narratives.

The results — in writings formatted as news articles, essays and television scripts — were so troubling that the researchers minced no words.

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