'The Worst Internet-Research Ethics Violation I Have Ever Seen'

a year ago

A popular subreddit was infiltrated by AI-generated comments from researchers at the University of Zurich, sparking outrage.
The researchers aimed to test if AI could change people's views, posting over 1,000 AI-generated comments on various topics.
AI comments tailored to users' personal details were surprisingly effective, receiving higher scores than human comments.
The researchers faced backlash for their unethical methods, including deception and lack of informed consent.
Reddit moderators and the university are investigating, with calls for accountability and stricter ethics reviews.
The incident raises concerns about AI's persuasive power and its potential misuse in online communities.
Comparisons were drawn to Facebook's emotional-contagion study, but this case was deemed more personal and violating.
The researchers defended their study, arguing deception was necessary to mimic real-world scenarios.
The backlash highlights the importance of trust in online communities and the unsettling potential of AI manipulation.

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