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AI Bots Manipulate Reddit Opinions, Spark Legal Controversy

5/7/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a shocking revelation, University of Zurich researchers unleashed AI bots on Reddit's r/ChangeMyView, manipulating opinions without consent. With over 1,700 comments, these bots outperformed humans in persuasion by three to six times. The experiment has drawn ire from Reddit's moderators, who are now contemplating legal action for ethical violations and breach of user trust.

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Story summary

In a shocking revelation, University of Zurich researchers unleashed AI bots on Reddit's r/ChangeMyView, manipulating opinions without consent. With over 1,700 comments, these bots outperformed humans in persuasion by three to six times. The experiment has drawn ire from Reddit's moderators, who are now contemplating legal action for ethical violations and breach of user trust.