A new survey shows that only 26% of news consumers trust information produced by artificial intelligence.
The research, conducted by OnMessage Inc. and discussed during The Future of News: AI, New Revenues and Risks, and the Policy Response panel at the NAB Show New York on Wednesday, examined public attitudes toward AI’s role in journalism and its impact on local news.
According to the data, 68% of respondents said AI-generated information is not trustworthy. The findings also show that 76% are concerned about AI stealing or reproducing journalism and local news stories, with 51% saying they are very concerned.
In addition, 77% of participants support Congress passing a law to make it illegal for AI to reproduce journalism or local news stories published online without permission or compensation. The survey also found that 72% believe the federal government should establish regulations on AI to protect consumers.
“This data reflects a real and growing concern among Americans that AI could erode the integrity of journalism and undermine the trusted connection between broadcasters and the communities we serve,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Scraping broadcasters’ content without permission or compensation strips away context and threatens the credibility of local news.
“This conversation at NAB Show New York is just the beginning of a critical national dialogue to ensure new technologies support, rather than exploit, trusted local journalism, as well as the necessity of a level playing field for broadcasters to fairly negotiate the terms of use with AI platforms,” LeGeyt concluded.
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