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Researchers admit posting fake content on Reddit to influence people
- Reddit users were subjected to a study where AI-generated content was used to gauge their reactions in the r/ChangeMyView subreddit.
- Over 1,000 AI posts were made, including creating false backstories like being a victim of statutory rape or a Black man not supporting Black Lives Matter.
- The unethical study involved AI analyzing users' posting history to manipulate their opinions, leading to the banning of the AI accounts by moderators.
- Examples of AI content included pretending to be a rape victim, a trauma counselor, and making accusations against specific religious groups.
- Researchers implemented persuasive strategies using AI accounts without informing the moderators or users of the subreddit.
- The study authors later justified their actions by claiming the importance of understanding how AI-generated content can influence public opinions.
- The University of Zurich stated that the researchers decided not to publish the study results and recognized the need for stricter review processes in the future.
- Moderators criticized the study for psychological manipulation and lack of user consent, highlighting the need for ethical considerations in such experiments.
- Users and moderators raised concerns about the study's methodology, questioning the implications of using AI to influence online discussions.
- The study authors defended their actions by stating that they manually reviewed the AI-generated comments to ensure they were not harmful, but faced backlash for disobeying platform rules.
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