ChatGPT Redirects 2 Million Users to Trusted News Sources on Election Day
OpenAI reveals that ChatGPT directed approximately 2 million users to traditional news outlets and voting resources during the recent election. The AI industry views the event as a successful, gaffe-free test of chatbots as information hubs.
OpenAI reports that ChatGPT tells around 2 million users to seek their election news elsewhere on Election Day and the day after. Instead of answering directly, the chatbot recommends trusted news sources like Reuters and the Associated Press. In the month leading up to the election, the AI also directs about a million people to CanIVote.org for specific voting questions.
The company additionally reveals that ChatGPT rejects approximately 250,000 requests to generate deepfake images of the candidates during this period. For comparison, the AI search engine Perplexity attracts 4 million page views to its dedicated election information hub. While these numbers fall short of the 67 million unique visitors that CNN's digital properties receive, they highlight a significant shift in how voters consume information.
The AI industry considers this election cycle a major victory because major brands avoid serious gaffes or the spread of misinformation. Users demonstrate enough trust in these platforms to use them as Election Day resources, a milestone for the emerging technology. However, experts note that the relatively decisive nature of this particular election provides a favorable testing ground compared to highly contested races with disputed results.