AI chatbots ChatGPT and Copilot were found spreading a debunked claim regarding the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The false assertion suggested that CNN would broadcast the debate with a “1-2 minute delay,” which sparked concerns about potential footage manipulation. Despite CNN’s immediate rejection of the claim, the misinformation spread rapidly. NBC News tested various chatbots, including Meta’s Meta AI, Google’s Gemini, and Elon Musk’s xAI’s Grok, to gauge their accuracy. While Meta AI and Grok responded correctly, Gemini refused to answer due to political sensitivity. The incident underscores the challenges of ensuring consistent and accurate responses from AI tools in the face of fast-changing and often unverifiable information. As elections approach globally in 2024, tech companies are taking measures to prevent AI misuse, such as labeling AI-generated content and restricting election-related queries. The potential for AI to unintentionally disseminate misinformation remains a significant concern for the integrity of democratic processes.

AI Chatbots Spread False Claim About Presidential Debate
AI chatbots ChatGPT and Copilot spread a debunked claim about the presidential debate.
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