You might think the news you read in your local paper is written by a person. But lately, that hasn't always been the case.

Experts have caught groups from Iran and Russia using AI to write fake articles. They then trick local news outlets into publishing these stories.

AI is software that can act like a human. It can write sentences, create images, and even pretend to be a real person. These groups use it to create what look like real opinion pieces.

OpenAI, the company that made ChatGPT, says these groups are trying to build 'false fronts.' This means they make fake personas to try and change what people think about politics or world events. They want you to believe that regular Americans are writing these stories. Instead, it is a planned effort by people in other countries to influence us.

CNN and other news organizations found that these fake stories have already appeared in several American media outlets.

It is becoming a big problem. Tech companies are now working harder to find these fake accounts and shut them down. However, experts say it is a game of cat and mouse. As soon as one fake account is taken down, another one pops up.

So, how can you protect yourself? Experts say we should be more careful about what we read online. If an article seems strange, or if you don’t recognize the writer, take a second to look them up. Always check if a story is being reported by other, well-known news sources before you believe it.

Source: The Washington Post