Observed Signal · Jul 1, 2026 · Research Study · Source: persoenlich.com News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Study: AI Writes as Convincingly as Journalists
A University of Zurich study found that, without knowing the origin, readers rated AI-assisted or fully AI-generated news excerpts about Swiss politics essentially the same as journalist-written versions on credibility, readability and professional quality. The experiment (May 2024) had 599 participants from German-speaking Switzerland and compared SRF article excerpts with variants produced with AI (including ChatGPT). Results were published in Scientific Reports on 2026-07-01. Disclosure that AI was involved increased short-term curiosity to re-read but did not raise long-term willingness to consume AI-generated news. The authors note limitations: the study measured intentions not actual behaviour and disclosure occurred after initial evaluation. Other Swiss and Reuters Institute surveys still report substantial public scepticism toward AI-written texts.
Findings directly affect publishers, newsroom workflows and audience trust debates: AI-generated copy matching journalistic quality has implications for editorial standards, disclosure practices and content monetization, though it is not an immediate platform policy or major-platform technical change.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- A University of Zurich research team led by political scientist Fabrizio Gilardi ran the experiment.
- 599 participants from German-speaking Switzerland evaluated short excerpts from SRF articles in May 2024.
- AI-assisted and fully AI-generated versions (including text from ChatGPT) were rated essentially equal to journalist-written texts on credibility, readability and professional quality.
- The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on 2026-07-01.
- When AI involvement was disclosed after evaluation, participants were more likely to re-open AI texts out of curiosity, but disclosure did not significantly increase stated willingness to read AI-generated news in the future.
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Study: AI Need Not Be a Threat to Journalism
An interview with Professor Fabrizio Gilardi discusses a University of Zurich study showing that, when readers do not know an article's origin, AI-generated news texts are rated as equally good as human-written ones. The study (data collected May 2024) used SRF local‑politics articles and found that disclosure of AI authorship increases short‑term curiosity to continue reading but does not imply greater trust or lasting preference. The research also documented an AI hallucinating a survey and a quote that participants did not notice, underscoring the need for human editorial oversight. Gilardi argues for transparent editorial standards and human responsibility rather than relying on simple AI labels.
Study: People Prefer AI-Generated Short Stories
A Villanova University study found participants rated AI-generated short stories as more engaging and of higher quality than comparable human-written stories. Participants read six short stories (three by AI, three by humans) and were sometimes misinformed about authorship; ratings were higher for texts believed to be human-authored. The article also notes LinkedIn launched a reporting feature to combat the flood of AI-generated career posts, and an AI analysis tool called Pangram classified 41% of longer LinkedIn posts as fully AI-generated. Critics warn about training data provenance and the cultural implications of relying on AI for creative writing.
Study: AI-Generated Stories Rated More Engaging
A Villanova University study found that participants rated AI-generated short stories as more engaging and higher quality than comparable human-written stories. Participants read six short stories (three AI, three human) and were told whether each text was AI-generated, with researchers sometimes giving false information. The article also notes that LinkedIn faces a flood of AI-generated posts—an analysis tool, Pangram, labeled 41% of longer LinkedIn posts as fully AI-generated. Researchers including Deena Skolnick Weisberg say AI can already produce stories as good as or better than humans, while critics warn about training on large bodies of human-written text and ethical concerns.
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