A recent annual survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism has revealed, for the first time, a significant trend: an increasing number of people are turning to generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT to access day-to-day news, headlines, and updates. The report, conducted by YouGov and based on a poll of 97,000 individuals across 48 countries, highlights a notable shift in news consumption habits. While seven percent of all respondents reported using AI for news, this proportion is considerably higher among younger demographics, with 12 percent of under-35s and 15 percent of under-25s embracing this new method.

Among the various AI chatbots available, OpenAI's ChatGPT is the most widely utilized for news purposes, followed by Google's Gemini and Meta's Llama. Users reported appreciating the ability of these chatbots to provide relevant and personalized news content. Beyond direct news consumption, AI is also being leveraged for other news-related tasks: 27 percent of users employ AI to summarize articles, 24 percent for translation, and 21 percent for recommendations. Additionally, nearly one in five individuals use AI to ask questions about current events.

Despite the growing adoption, distrust in AI's role in news remains a significant concern. Polled individuals expressed worries that AI could compromise the transparency, accuracy, and trustworthiness of news. This skepticism is partly fueled by the nature of powerful AI