Newsbreak is without doubt one of the most downloaded information apps within the US with over 50 million month-to-month customers. Nonetheless, in line with a report by Reuters, the corporate is spreading misinformation by synthetic intelligence (AI) generated content material. The report additionally highlights that Newsbreak has roots in China, maintains its expertise in Beijing and receives funding from a Chinese language firm that reportedly works for the nation’s navy.
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How Newsbreak is Misusing AI
The Reuters Report Highlighted many examples the place Newsbreak used AI to create information that by no means really occurred. For instance, final Christmas Eve, it revealed an alarming article a few small-town capturing. It was titled “Christmas Day tragedy hits Bridgeton, New Jersey amid rising gun violence in small cities.”
Nonetheless, no such incident occurred. The Bridgeton, New Jersey, police division posted an announcement on Fb on Dec. 27 dismissing the article — generated utilizing AI expertise — as “completely false.”
Newsbreak doesn’t write all of its articles. The corporate is a distributor that publishes licensed content material from shops akin to Reuters, Fox, CNN and AP. A few of its articles have been obtained utilizing info obtainable on the Web and in addition by interpretation of press releases.
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How the automated content material of newsbreaks disrupted native communities
Based on a Reuters investigation, there have been at the very least 40 instances since 2021 the place the usage of Newsbreak’s AI instruments has affected communities. The app revealed false tales, created 10 tales below pretend bylines from native information websites and lifted content material from its opponents. Two area people applications supporting the underprivileged had been affected by newsbreak’s AI-generated false tales.
In January, February and March this yr, Meals to Energy, a Colorado-based meals financial institution, needed to flip folks away as a result of newsbreaks indicated the improper time for meals distribution. The charity complained to Newsbreak in a Jan. 30 electronic mail to the corporate’s ordinary buyer assist deal with however obtained no response. Harvest 912, a charity in Erie, Pennsylvania, reported an identical incident.
Norm Perlstein, former government editor of the Wall Avenue Journal and Los Angeles Occasions, served as a marketing consultant to Newsbreak. The corporate additionally tried to create pretend accounts to entry content material that publishers put behind paywalls, he informed Reuters.
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Newsbreak’s China connection
Newsbreak advertises itself as a US-based and US-invested startup, however the firm has its roots in China. It was based in 2015 by Jeff Zheng, who at present serves as CEO of Newsbreak. Zheng can be the founding father of Chinese language information aggregation app Yidian. In reality, the 2 corporations share a US patent registered in 2015 for an “curiosity engine” algorithm, which recommends information content material primarily based on a consumer’s pursuits and placement.
As of 2019, Newsbreak was a subsidiary of Yidian, and the Chinese language information aggregation firm introduced Newsbreak as its US model by 2021, in line with Wire China. Moreover, one of many main backers of the newsbreak is Beijing-based IDG Capital, which is on an inventory of dozens of Chinese language corporations the Pentagon has accused of working with the Chinese language navy. You will need to be aware that there isn’t a proof that Newsbreak censored or produced information to swimsuit the Chinese language authorities.
We reached out to Newsbreak for touch upon this text and didn’t obtain a response as of our deadline.
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4 methods to guard your self from misinformation
The rising use of AI implies that the web is now tougher to navigate than ever earlier than. Observe these steps to guard your self from misinformation.
1) Confirm sources: Examine the reliability of the supply. Search for information from respected organizations with a observe file of accuracy and accountability. Confirm info in a number of trusted sources earlier than trusting or sharing info.
2) Examine the creator: Examine the creator of the content material. Be sure they’re dependable and have the required experience or background. Watch out for articles with out creator bylines.
3) Use fact-checking instruments: Use fact-checking web sites and instruments like Snopes, FactCheck.org or the Worldwide Reality-Checking Community to confirm doubtful claims. These sources may help you establish the accuracy of the data.
4) Be skeptical of social media: Take info on social media with a grain of salt. Platforms like Fb, X and Instagram will be breeding grounds for misinformation. Confirm from trusted sources earlier than sharing or trusting info. Be particularly cautious of viral content material and take into account the potential bias of these sharing it.
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The web has at all times been a breeding floor for misinformation, however now that information media publications have began utilizing AI to generate content material, misinformation is at its peak. The newsbreak incident is only one of many who have come to gentle in recent times, and it is only a trace of what we’re about to witness. It’s important that you just get your dose of stories from dependable sources. You may at all times depend on me for tech-related information, however for different content material, be sure to confirm the sources.
As we navigate the digital age with AI, what tasks do platforms like Newsbreak have in combating the unfold of misinformation? Inform us by writing to us Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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