An investigation into the prevalence of generative AI content on LinkedIn has unveiled a substantial presence of algorithm-created posts on the platform. As documented by Kate Knibbs in WIRED, the surge in AI-generated posts coincided with the rise in popularity of AI tools, particularly after the introduction of ChatGPT in 2023.
The analysis conducted by the company Originality AI involved scrutinising over 8,500 public posts on LinkedIn, focusing on those written in English. The findings revealed that at least 54% of the examined posts were likely created by AI systems. This statistic sheds light on how pervasive generative AI has become within professional networking spaces.
LinkedIn, which offers users various AI features to enhance content creation, acknowledges the role of AI in its ecosystem. Adam Walkiewicz, a representative from LinkedIn, stated in an interview with WIRED that the platform is working diligently to “proactively identify low-quality, and exact or near-exact duplicate content.” He further emphasised, “We see AI as a tool that can help with review of a draft or to beat the blank page problem, but the original thoughts and ideas that our members share are what matter.”
The implications of a high volume of AI-generated texts are significant, as users of social media grapple with determining the authenticity of content. The challenges are not limited to LinkedIn; other social networks also face similar issues. In a related discussion, Emanuel Maiberg from 404 Media highlighted an application called Impact, which is designed to facilitate online political debates by providing users with AI-generated text that can be easily copied and pasted. This raises questions about the nature of discourse and engagement in digital environments where original authorship is increasingly ambiguous.
As these trends continue to evolve, the complexity of distinguishing between human-generated and AI-generated content is becoming a pressing concern for both platform operators and users. The investigation by WIRED serves as a crucial reminder of the changing landscape of digital communication, where identifying the source of information may soon necessitate new skills and tools.
Source: Noah Wire Services