AI Chatbots Gain Traction as News Source, But Distrust remains
Table of Contents
- AI Chatbots Gain Traction as News Source, But Distrust remains
- AI’s Role in News Consumption: Summarization and Translation Lead
- Distrust and the “Hallucination” Problem
- News Organizations Navigate the AI Landscape
- Social Media’s Continued Influence,Especially Among Younger Audiences
- X’s Evolving Role in News Dissemination
- Key Metrics: AI and Social Media for News
- The Evolution of News Consumption
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Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are increasingly being used to access news headlines and updates, especially among younger demographics, according to the latest annual survey from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism [1]. The 2025 report, drawing data from a YouGov poll of 97,000 individuals across 48 countries, indicates that while onyl 7% of respondents use AI for news discovery, this figure rises to 15% among those under 25.
the Reuters Institute report, considered a key resource for understanding media trends, highlights a paradox: while AI offers personalized news experiences, significant distrust remains regarding its transparency and reliability. The most popular AI tools for news consumption are OpenAI‘s ChatGPT, followed by Google’s Gemini and Meta’s Llama.
AI’s Role in News Consumption: Summarization and Translation Lead
Beyond headline access, the survey reveals that many people are leveraging AI for tasks related to news consumption. Approximately 27% use AI to summarize articles, 24% for translation, and 21% for recommendations. Nearly one in five respondents reported using AI to ask questions about current events.
Did You Know? the Pew Research center found that 52% of U.S. adults get news from social media at least sometimes [2], highlighting the ongoing shift towards digital news sources.
Distrust and the “Hallucination” Problem
Despite the increasing adoption, distrust in AI-generated news remains a significant concern. Respondents expressed worries that AI could make news less transparent, accurate, and trustworthy. A key challenge is the phenomenon of AI “hallucinations,” were these systems invent information that seems plausible but is factually incorrect.
These powerful AI “large language models” (LLMs) are trained on vast datasets, including news articles and video reports. While this training enables them to generate text and images in response to natural language queries, it also makes them susceptible to creating false information.
Facing a challenging revenue surroundings, some news organizations are exploring partnerships with AI developers. Agence France-Presse (AFP), for example, has granted French AI firm Mistral access to its extensive archive of news stories. Conversely, other media outlets, such as The New York Times, have initiated copyright lawsuits against AI companies like OpenAI, alleging unauthorized use of their content.
The Reuters Institute report also underscores the continued shift away from traditional media (TV,radio,newspapers) towards social networks and video-sharing platforms. Almost half of individuals aged 18-24 cite social media platforms like TikTok as their primary news source, particularly in emerging economies like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Pro Tip: To verify information found on social media, cross-reference it with reputable news organizations and fact-checking websites.
X’s Evolving Role in News Dissemination
Elon Musk’s ownership of X (formerly Twitter) has led to notable changes in the platform’s user base and content. the report indicates that X remains a significant source of news for many, despite a perceived rightward shift in its content. in the United States,23% of people reported using X for news,an increase of 8% compared to the 2024 survey. Similar increases were observed in countries like Australia and Poland.
Smaller social networks like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon have had minimal impact on news consumption globally, with reach of 2% or less.
| Source | Percentage of Users | Age Group |
|---|---|---|
| AI Chatbots | 7% | All Adults |
| AI Chatbots | 15% | Under 25s |
| Social Media (TikTok) | ~45% | 18-24s |
| X (formerly Twitter) | 23% | U.S. Adults |
How do you feel about using AI to get your news? What steps do you take to ensure the news you read is accurate?
The Evolution of News Consumption
The shift towards digital news consumption has been a gradual but persistent trend over the past two decades. The rise of the internet and social media has disrupted traditional media models, leading to new ways of accessing and sharing information. AI is the latest technology poised to reshape the news landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for news organizations and consumers alike.
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