CNET's AI-generated content backfires, loses website its Wikipedia reliability status
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CNET published dozens of AI-generated articles filled with errors and plagiarism in 2022, leading Wikipedia to downgrade it from a "generally reliable" source.
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The revelation damaged CNET's reputation and raised concerns about Red Ventures' growing use of AI across its media properties.
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Wikipedia editors debated demoting all Red Ventures sites due to the AI issues and alleged advertorial pressure at CNET.
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CNET paused its AI content efforts but the damage was done - anything published since its 2020 Red Ventures acquisition lost "generally reliable" status.
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The scandal made selling CNET difficult for Red Ventures and undermined years of work by CNET's staff to build a trustworthy brand.