Pew Survey: Younger Adults More Skeptrical of of News Accuracy

A Pew Research Center survey provides insight into how Americans perceive the accuracy of news obtained from AI chatbots, with a notable generational divide. 

Key Survey: Divide in Perceived Accuracy: The Pew Research Center survey, conducted as part of a broader study on AI-driven news consumption, found that 59% of U.S. adults under 30 who get news from AI chatbots report encountering information they believe is inaccurate at least sometimes. In contrast, only 36% of those aged 65 and older report the same. This indicates younger adults are significantly more skeptical of AI chatbot news accuracy compared to their older counterparts.

No Major Differences by Other Factors: The survey notes that unlike age, factors like political party affiliation or education level do not show significant variations in perceptions of AI chatbot news inaccuracy. This suggests age is a uniquely strong predictor of skepticism in this context.

Why Younger Adults Are More Skeptical: Digital Literacy and Exposure: Adults under 30, often referred to as Gen Z or younger Millennials, have grown up in a digital-first environment with widespread exposure to social media, AI tools, and online misinformation. Their familiarity with these platforms may make them more attuned to spotting inconsistencies or errors in AI-generated content, such as factual inaccuracies, biased framing, or AI "hallucinations" (where models generate plausible but incorrect information).

Critical Engagement with Technology: Younger adults are more likely to critically engage with AI tools, having been educated in an era emphasizing media literacy. They may recognize the limitations of large language models, which rely on training data that can include outdated or biased information, leading to higher distrust.

Usage Patterns: Younger users may interact with AI chatbots more frequently for news or casual queries, increasing their chances of encountering inaccuracies. Older adults, less likely to use AI tools regularly, may have fewer opportunities to notice errors or may approach AI outputs with less scrutiny due to lower familiarity.

Adults 65 and older are less likely to use AI chatbots as a primary news source, relying instead on traditional outlets like TV or print. When they do use AI, they may treat it as a novel or authoritative tool, leading to greater trust in its outputs.