Ads disguised as local news websites are promoting Democrats : NPR

Key Points:

• NPR investigation found that ahead of the midterms, ChatGPT cited a network of 37 websites posing as local news outlets that primarily promote Democratic candidates in competitive U.S. House races, raising concerns about stealth political advertising.
• These websites, launched simultaneously in September, publish numerous articles favoring specific Democrats while offering limited coverage of opposing candidates, and appear to be optimized for AI chatbots by including AI-friendly features like llms.txt files.
• ChatGPT frequently cited these sites in responses about candidates’ positions, especially in down-ballot races with less credible coverage, while Google's AI and search results largely avoided referencing these questionable sources.
• The operators behind the websites remain unknown, with candidates and Democratic groups denying involvement; experts warn this tactic blurs lines between news and political ads, complicating voters’ ability to discern reliable information.
• Both OpenAI and Google stated they take action when issues arise, but NPR’s follow-up showed ChatGPT continued to cite the sites, highlighting ongoing challenges in preventing AI chatbots from amplifying deceptive political content.