Manipulating Perception: AI and Reputation Management

Welcome back to the FAIK Files!

In this episode, we take a look at China's groundbreaking (yet controversial) requirement to label all AI-generated content. We also explore some unsettling experiments that show just how it is to manipulate an AI system's biases and opinions. Plus -- is reliance on AI making us dumber? And our AI Dumpster Fire of the week is all about how AI-powered search engines keep confidently serving up misinformation, broken links, and outright lies.

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*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***

China's New AI Data Labeling Requirement

• Tom's Hardware -- China will enforce clear flagging of all AI generated content starting from September: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/china-will-enforce-clear-flagging-of-all-ai-generated-content-starting-from-september
• Futurism -- All AI-Generated Material Must Be Labeled Online, China Announces: https://futurism.com/ai-generated-material-labeled-china

Changing the Opinions of LLMs:

• Kevin Roose experiment: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/30/technology/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-manipulation.html
• NewsGard research: https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/a-well-funded-moscow-based-global

Is Easy Access to AI killing our ability to think?

• Vox -- The case for using your brain — even if AI can think for you: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/403100/ai-brain-effects-technology-phones
• Technology Connections -- Algorithms are breaking how we think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJpZjg8GuA

Dumpster Fire of the Week: AI Search Can't be Trusted (... at least not yet)

• Colombia Journalism Review -- AI Search Has a Citation Problem: https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/we-compared-eight-ai-search-engines-theyre-all-bad-at-citing-news.php
• Ars Technica -- AI search engines cite incorrect news sources at an alarming 60% rate, study says: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/03/ai-search-engines-give-incorrect-answers-at-an-alarming-60-rate-study-says/

*** THE BOILERPLATE ***

About The FAIK Files:

The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.

• Get the Book: FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions (Amazon Associates link)
• Check out the website for more info: https://thisbookisfaik.com

Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA
• Other: https://digitalfolklore.fm 

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Connect with Mason:

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