Sam Altman says ChatGPT is making social media feel fake, yet he’s one of the main reasons it's an issue (www.techradar.com)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently expressed concern that AI tools like ChatGPT are making social media platforms feel increasingly “fake,” with many posts seeming bot-generated or artificially flavored. He highlighted a range of factors contributing to this phenomenon, including real users adopting the quirks of large language models (LLMs), the clustering of heavily online communities, engagement-driven platform algorithms, and monetization incentives that push for amplified, sensational content. Altman's candid admission sheds light on the complex interplay between AI-generated content and human behavior reshaping online discourse. This revelation is significant for the AI/ML community as it underscores the unintended social impacts of deploying powerful generative models at scale. While ChatGPT and similar technologies offer immense utility, their integration into everyday communication is already altering digital authenticity and interaction dynamics. Interestingly, Altman is simultaneously involved in a project called The Orb Mini—hardware intended to verify human users on platforms like Reddit or Twitter—potentially reflecting a future where identity verification is essential to combat AI-driven misinformation and bots. This raises important ethical and technical questions about privacy, accessibility, and the balance between innovation and trust in digital ecosystems. Altman’s ambivalence—oscillating between advocating AI’s promise and warning of its perils—highlights the broader tension in AI development: harnessing transformative potential without losing control over its social consequences. His comments invite deeper reflection on accountability in AI leadership and the urgent need for strategies addressing AI’s influence on online authenticity and user experience.