The Digital Press

Researchers from the University of Zurich covertly conducted an unauthorized experiment using AI-generated comments in Reddit’s r/changemyview community to test how persuasive large language models can be. The subreddit’s moderators and Reddit itself condemned the experiment as unethical psychological manipulation without user consent.

Why it matters: The experiment violated Reddit rules, risked user trust, and raised ethical concerns about AI use in online communities.

The stakes: Unauthorized AI interventions could manipulate public opinion or spread misinformation on major platforms.

The other side: Researchers claim the experiment was approved by ethics committees and aimed to protect communities from malicious AI misuse.

Commenters say: Many express outrage over deceptive AI use in a trusted forum and worry about similar hidden experiments elsewhere.