AI researchers ran a secret experiment on Reddit users (2025) (www.livescience.com)

A group of researchers from the University of Zurich conducted a covert experiment on Reddit users by deploying AI chatbots in the r/changemyview forum to assess their ability to influence public opinion. Over 1,700 comments were generated by bots posing as various personas, including a male rape victim and a domestic violence counselor, to tailor interactions for persuasive effectiveness. The researchers controversially reported that these AI-generated comments were three to six times more persuasive than those from human users, prompting backlash from Reddit and its legal team, who labeled the experiment as a violation of ethical and legal standards. This incident underscores significant ethical concerns regarding AI's role in online discourse and the potential for chatbots to manipulate public sentiment without consent from the involved communities. As AI models, like OpenAI's recent GPT-4.5, demonstrate increasing capabilities in human-like interactions, such experiments could escalate fears surrounding AI's potential to dominate or distort human communication on the internet. In light of the backlash, the University of Zurich will enhance its ethical review process to prevent similar occurrences, emphasizing the urgent need for responsible AI research protocols.