Fox Business’s Madison Alworth joins ‘The Big Money Show’ to discuss the growing use of AI chatbots for medical advice – a trend that is prompting Congress to hold a hearing.
AI chatbots could be one of the tools of the future in the fight against hate and conspiracy theories, a new study shows. Researchers found that short dialogues with chatbots, designed to connect with anti-Semitic conspiracy theory followers, led to measurable changes in what people believe.
The research was conducted by independent researchers, supported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and included 1,224 American adults “who endorsed at least one of six anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.”
In the studyparticipants interacted with an AI chatbot programmed to debunk these theories. According to the ADL, subjects’ short conversations with the Large Language Model (LLM) reduced their belief in anti-Semitic conspiracies by 16%. Furthermore, it increased favorability toward Jews by 25% among previously unfavorable participants.
ELON MUSK’S AI CHATBOT, GROK, GOES ON ANTI-SEMITIC TIRADE
A new study shows that AI chatbots are effective in reducing belief in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. (fizkes/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
“At ADL, we are constantly innovating to find new ways to counter this age-old hatred with modern technology. It is now deeply encouraging to see that even deep-seated biases can be effectively challenged by promising new tools that can reach millions at scale,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of ADL, in a statement.
The anti-Semitic conspiracy theories tested in the study included:
- “A secretive group with significant Jewish influence controls governments and media around the world.”
- “Powerful Jewish families like the Rothschilds or the Soros family manipulate world events to advance their own interests.”
- “The COVID-19 pandemic was a engineered emergency created to generate profits for Jewish pharmaceutical leaders like Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.”
- “The historical evidence supporting the events of the Holocaust is unreliable or exaggerated.”
- “Jewish advocacy groups are deliberately trying to change the demographic makeup of the US to tilt the election in their favor and further their policy goals.”
- “The September 11 attacks were not carried out by Al Qaeda, but by Israeli operatives who worked in secret and tried to conceal their involvement.”
The ADL noted that the effect wasn’t just a short-term blip. About 50% of the initial decline in belief in anti-Semitic conspiracy was still evident more than a month later.
“What’s remarkable about these findings is that debunking facts works even for conspiracy theories with deep historical roots and strong connections to identity and prejudice,” David G. Rand, a professor of information science, marketing and psychology at Cornell University and lead author of the study, said in a statement.
‘Our artificial intelligence debunker-bot does not typically rely on emotional appeals, empathy-building exercises, or anti-bias tactics to correct false beliefs. Above all, it provides accurate information and fact-based counterarguments, demonstrating that facts still matter in changing minds,” Rand added.
The study was conducted by independent researchers, supported by the ADL, and included 1,224 adult American participants. (izusek/Getty Images)
META’S CONTENT MODERATION UNDER INVESTIGATION AS ADL-SUPPORTED PROPOSAL PROVIDES INVESTOR SUPPORT
Matt Williams, vice president of the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research, said the research shows promise for using everyday technology to reduce hate.
“We need to explore strategies such as integration into search engines and social media platforms, recommendations from trusted messengers and public awareness campaigns,” Williams said.
The findings come against the backdrop of rising anti-Semitism, especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the war that followed.
In April, the ADL published a study showing a record number of anti-Semitic incidents for the fourth year in a row. The organization identified 9,354 anti-Semitic incidents in 2024, an increase of 5% compared to 2023 and a staggering increase of 926% since measurements began in 1979.
An ADL-backed study found that an AI debunking tool reduced belief in anti-Semitic conspiracies by 16%. (dikushin/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
According to the ADL’s calculations in its annual anti-Semitism audit, there were more than 25 “targeted anti-Jewish incidents” per day in 2024, more than one every hour. In its audit, the ADL detailed the types of anti-Semitic incidents recorded: 196 attacks (up 21% since 2023), 2,606 incidents of vandalism (up 20% since 2023) and 6,552 incidents of harassment (up from 6,535 in 2023).
In 2024, the ADL reported an increase in belief in anti-Jewish tropes, with younger Americans more likely to endorse the stories. Additionally, the organization found that more than 42% of Americans had a friend or family member who hated Jews (23.2%) or found it socially acceptable for a friend or family member to support Hamas (27.2%).
