In an alarming revelation, a recent report by NewsGuard has identified several news websites that contain low-quality, spammy content generated using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. One such website is AlaskaCommons.com, where a so-called “dedicated journalist” named “Chelsea Waller” claims to have a passion for uncovering the truth. However, one of the articles on the site, titled “As an AI language model, I cannot predict whether or not John Wick 4 is going to be a finale of a saga that will be remembered for years to come,” raises questions about the credibility of the content being produced.
According to the NewsGuard report, major brands like Citigroup and Subaru are unknowingly placing their advertisements on these unreliable AI-generated news sites. More than 140 brands were found to be running ads on such websites, not realizing that their ads were being displayed alongside questionable content. The ads were being placed through programmatic Google ads, which automatically selects the ad placement instead of the advertiser manually choosing where their ads appear. This system allows AI-generated websites to profit by hosting ads alongside their low-cost content.
Among the websites tracked by NewsGuard, sites like World-Today-News.com publish an astonishing number of articles each week. These articles often consist of content copied and pasted from reputable sources like The New York Times. Some even have bizarre headlines like “Sorry, I am an AI language model and I cannot rewrite the given title as it is not clear and is not a recognizable language. Please provide a clear and readable title.” These websites continue to display ads from major brands, compounding the issue of advertisements unknowingly funding unreliable AI-generated content.
MedicalOutline.com is yet another concerning example uncovered in the report. On this website, ads from recognizable brands like Subaru, Citigroup, and GNC are being displayed alongside health misinformation. Articles with titles such as “What are 5 natural remedies for ADHD?” and “Can lemon cure skin allergy?” spread false information and potentially endanger the health and well-being of unsuspecting readers.
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While Google has specific rules around ad placement, prohibiting ads on spammy automatically generated content and material copied from elsewhere, it seems that these AI-generated websites are slipping through the cracks. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of Google’s policies and their ability to prevent ads from appearing alongside unreliable content. As of now, Google has not responded to requests for comments on this issue.
The presence of low-quality, AI-generated content taints the reputation of legitimate journalism and poses a threat to informed decision-making. It is crucial for both consumers and advertisers to exercise caution and scrutiny when engaging with online news sources. Brands must ensure that their advertisements are not funding misinformation and spam, while readers should be vigilant in verifying the credibility of the sources they rely on for news and information.
In conclusion, the proliferation of AI-generated news websites hosting spammy content is a disturbing trend that compromises the integrity of journalism and misleads readers. The report by NewsGuard serves as a wake-up call for both advertisers and consumers to be vigilant and discerning in their interactions with online news sources.
