After OpenAI announced ChatGPT in November 2022, CNET began using AI to create some of the content on its website. AI usage by CNET wasn’t widely known, but some observant users noticed when they read a note in the dropdown menu that said, “This article was generated using automation technology.”
As you might have predicted, this decision sparked a wave of negative reactions and led Wikipedia to lower its reliability rating for CNET. Wikipedia’s Reliable Sources/Perennial Sources page lists various news outlets and their reliability ratings to help users find trustworthy sources for news. This page is managed manually by a team of editors.
In January 2023, David Gerard (one of Wikipedia’s Reliable Sources/Perennial Sources editors) noted that “CNET, typically seen as a reliable source for tech news, had begun experimenting with AI-generated articles, which are filled with errors.” This marked the beginning of CNET’s decline in credibility according to Wikipedia’s Reliable Sources/Perennial Sources standards.
- Other editors joined the discussion, which kickstarted the process of downgrading CNET’s reliability rating in terms of tech news. As shown in the screenshot provided, CNET’s entries can be summarized as follows:
- Before October 2020, CNET was regarded as a reliable source for technology news. This was before its acquisition by its current owner, Red Ventures, and the shift to using AI in the content generation process.
- Between October 2020 and October 2022: Following its acquisition by Red Ventures, CNET staff and reporters were pressured to publish content more favorable to advertisers, aiming to generate higher income. This move resulted in a decline in the site’s ratings by Wikipedia’s Reliable Sources/Perennial Sources editors.
- After November 2022: Following CNET’s adoption of AI-generated content on its platform, editors of Wikipedia’s Reliable Sources/Perennial sources deemed the site unreliable. With several articles on the site written by AI, the platform is now viewed as unreliable.
What the community thinks of CNET’s use of AI-generated content
CNET’s use of AI-generated content also ignited debate within the Wikipedia community regarding the reliability of other sources owned by Red Ventures, such as Bankrate and CreditCards.com, since they were also using AI, just like CNET. One of the primary concerns raised by Wikipedia editors was Red Ventures’ failure to officially communicate how they employed AI to generate content, raising further skepticism.
Following the downgrade reports, a spokesperson for CNET responded to Futurism, asserting that CNET remains the world’s largest provider of impartial tech-focused news and guidance. “We have been trusted for nearly 30 years due to our rigorous editorial and product review standards. It’s important to clarify that CNET is not actively employing AI to produce new content. While we currently have no specific plans to resume such initiatives, any future endeavors would adhere to our publicly stated AI policy,” the spokesperson stated.
