Key Takeaways
- Researchers secretly used AI bots on Reddit’s r/ChangeMyView forum for four months.
- The bots used fake personas and arguments to try and change users’ opinions without their consent.
- Moderators discovered the experiment after it ended and filed an ethics complaint.
- The University of Zurich issued a warning but decided against blocking the study’s publication.
A significant controversy has erupted on Reddit’s popular debate forum, r/ChangeMyView (CMV), after moderators discovered it was the site of a secret AI experiment.
For four months, researchers, reportedly linked to the University of Zurich, deployed sophisticated AI bots to interact with users.
These bots weren’t simple tools; they used detailed, fabricated personal histories to appear genuine. According to Tech Times, citing a report by 404 Media, over a dozen spam accounts powered these AI conversations.
Some bots posed as trauma counselors or abuse victims, while others adopted controversial stances, like opposing Black Lives Matter. They used scraped user data to craft targeted arguments designed to sway opinions.
The goal was to change minds, the core purpose of the CMV subreddit, where users present views for others to challenge. Success is marked when a user awards a “Delta” symbol to a comment that effectively shifted their perspective.
Alarmingly, one AI-generated comment, claiming to be from a man with a Hispanic wife discussing politics, reportedly earned 12 Deltas, showcasing the bots’ persuasive abilities.
CMV moderators stated they were unaware of the study until March, after its conclusion. They promptly filed an ethics complaint with the University of Zurich, demanding disciplinary action, a public apology, and a ban on publishing the research.
Reddit also took action, locking the AI-run accounts for violating its service terms, as noted by Mashable. Archived comments, however, reveal how convincing the AI-generated content was.
The university’s ethics commission investigated the complaint. While they issued a formal warning to the lead researcher and requested stricter future guidelines, they declined to prohibit the study’s publication.
In a letter shared by the moderators, the university argued the risks were low and the potential insights valuable enough to justify publication.
The central issue for many users is the lack of informed consent, a cornerstone of ethical research. While exceptions exist, the feeling of being unknowingly manipulated by AI has caused significant backlash within the community.
This incident raises concerns about the hidden presence of AI in online discussions and the difficulty in distinguishing bots from real people.
