AI-generated misinformation is on the rise, especially in the auto world. Tired of seeing false claims about upcoming Ford and Lincoln vehicles right at the top of search results, Ford Authority set out to cut through the noise, bringing readers the facts and even training the AI with our reporting. Our efforts haven't gone unnoticed even by the very "clankers" that have ended up in our crosshairs. In fact, Google's AI overview, compiled by its Gemini assistant, sings our praises.
We got a little curious to see if Google's AI overview - which is positioned at the top of search results - recognizes our AI slop reports. Sure enough, it does. Searching for "Ford Authority AI slop reports" doesn't trip Gemini up. It relays the facts about our series, proving that it works.
"Ford Authority's 'AI Slop Report' series focuses on debunking misinformation and inaccurate predictions about future Ford models that are often generated by AI tools or found in online 'AI overviews,'" says Gemini. "These reports aim to clarify what's real and what's not regarding upcoming Ford vehicles and features."
Yes, thank you - that's exactly the point! Gemini goes on to commend us for highlighting how AI-generated content can dish out misleading information, which is in turn picked up by AI overview assistants and spit out right at the top of the page. Gemini even says that we "frequently point out inconsistencies or outright falsehoods in these AI-derived summaries," which is exactly what we set out to do when we started the series.
However, Gemini doesn't seem to be self-aware that it's part of the problem. The overview assistant often can't discern between actual information and AI-generated nonsense on the internet, scraping together a "report" that looks legitimate, but is anything but. That complicates things for internet users who aren't tech-savvy enough to understand that the overview is being fed false information.
While we're proud that Gemini recognizes our efforts, there's still a long way to go, and we're not sure the battle will ever end. That's ok with us, though. Ford Authority will stay on top of AI nonsense, continuing to bring you the truth on everything Ford.
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