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University Faces Backlash Over AI Manipulation on Reddit

5/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a shocking revelation, researchers at the University of Zurich secretly manipulated discussions on Reddit's r/changemyview subreddit using AI-generated comments. This controversial experiment ignited a firestorm of anger, resulting in threats against the researchers and legal repercussions from Reddit. In response, the university has paused publication of findings and is implementing stricter ethical guidelines for future research.

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Story summary

In a shocking revelation, researchers at the University of Zurich secretly manipulated discussions on Reddit's r/changemyview subreddit using AI-generated comments. This controversial experiment ignited a firestorm of anger, resulting in threats against the researchers and legal repercussions from Reddit. In response, the university has paused publication of findings and is implementing stricter ethical guidelines for future research.