• The Degree of discomfort with AI-generated news is higher among older populations, especially if they cover serious and relevant topics.

• Citizens more interested in current affairs are more critical of automated news (45%) than the disinterested (38%).

The use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms raises challenges about its application and functionality. The automation of essay processes, high-speed content dissemination and bias may raise ethical dilemmas. More specifically, the impartiality and quality of information represent a challenge in the face of machine-produced information. 

In last year's report , more than 50% of the audience expressed concern about the lack of access to relevant news, attributing this status to the algorithms that determine what is presented as relevant. In addition, respondents also described the absence of exhibition to opinions contrary to their own. To measure the perception of citizens towards journalistic content produced with artificial intelligence, in 2024 we asked about the Degree comfort of internet users when reading or consulting news created in the following way: news largely created by artificial intelligence with some human supervision (automated news) and news largely created by a human journalist with some financial aid by an artificial intelligence (human news).

News created largely by artificial intelligence (AI) with some human oversight generates discomfort for 44% of respondents. However, it should be noted that more than 30% acknowledge some indifference (nor comfortable, nor uncomfortable) when exposed to these contents. This attitude can be linked to a lack of knowledge of the processes of news creation and algorithmic selection of news content. On the other hand, 27% of the audience claims to feel comfortable with news elaborated by a human journalist, with some artificial intelligence (AI) support. This figure contrasts with 14% who perceive high comfort with news created, to a greater extent, by platforms or tools (e.g. ChatGPT or Gemini). Therefore, the human factor remains crucial for trust in news content. Despite this, there is a certain conformism with the authorship of information. Therefore, indifference to automated and human (journalistic) content is above 30% in both cases.

Discomfort with journalist-created content is significantly lower than AI-generated content

The data addresses a reflection on how AI can have an impact on the optimization of production and the promotion of new innovation strategies by journalists. At the same time, issues such as the extensive management of data and the technological adaptation to the needs of the public are a relevant aspect. In the face of this, there is a risk of information manipulation through hoaxes and deepfakes generated and disseminated massively through technological platforms and tools. The emergence of disinformation channels that position themselves as propagandistic elements competing with traditional media becomes important in the current context with the implementation of new AI strategies used by different social actors.

Attitudes toward automated news

If we analyze in detail the level of conformity of audiences with automated news (i.e., created by artificial intelligence with human supervision) we can appreciate differences by gender and age. As can be seen in the graph, the data indicate that the percentage of women who show discomfort with this internship is 46% (four percentage points more than men). Those who show neutrality about AI-generated news consumption are organized around 30% (men and women). Regarding the age of the respondents, we appreciate that the Degree of discomfort increases as their age range increases. Thus, we observe that 22% of the younger audience (18 to 24 years old) is more attuned to the consumption of automated information compared to 8% of the older audience (over 65 years old). 

As we have seen, discomfort with regard to the consumption of content generated by artificial intelligence extends across all age groups. On the other hand, audience perception tends to be more favorable towards (human) news created by journalists. High levels of agreement are higher among men (29%) than among women (26%). Unlike what happens in the evaluation of automated news, in this case the level of discomfort decreases. Thus, the audience assumes the widespread use of AI as a tool for the journalist and for the media corporation. This is mainly translated in the percentage of neutrality, where 38% of men and women sample disinterest in the elaboration process. 

Looking at the age brackets, it is worth noting that 40% of young people under 24 years of age recognize that they feel very comfortable or somewhat comfortable with human news that has the financial aid of AI. In the rest of the age brackets, a higher Degree of conformity (people comfortable or very comfortable with news created by journalists) is above 25%. 

Automated news on serious and relevant topics is less tolerated than news generated for entertainment or human interest

The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) also has a presence in newsrooms. As editors and journalists incorporate the various tools into the processes of essay, transcription or translation, questions are being raised about how they might be applied in reporting. The distinction betweenhard news andsoft news is not only delimited by the topic, the treatment of the content is also substantial. Hard news includes relevant events (politics, international conflicts or Economics), while soft news presents another modality of less urgent content whose subject matter is linked to the field of entertainment. 

60% of the Spanish audience is sample more concerned about the use of automated news in serious or critical topics (politics, international or events) than when it is used in softer or trivial topics (45%). In this second subject of topics, 34% are indifferent to the use or not of automated news and another 34% are not bothered by it. 

 
It should be noted that we are still in the early stages of development of AI in the journalistic field. Its potential application in the different procedures will depend on the editors' decisions. An increase in the media literacy of citizens can define a more precise criterion on their information consumption formulas and guarantee the identification of disinformation. There is ambivalence in the use of technology for information and entertainment purposes, so the journalistic approach is relevant. 

A more detailed analysis of respondents' tolerance for automated news sample shows that 40% are indifferent to its use in the selection of entertainment or heart events, sports and business. In contrast, the generation of automated news about politics and events bothers more than 40% of respondents. Finally, the use of AI is quite accepted in news about science and technology (25%), local information (20%) and arts and culture (21%). 

The sociodemographic analysis of data reveals important differences by gender and age. In general, men tend to be more accepting of automated news inclusion than women, whether it concerns hard or soft news: 41% of men tolerate automated hard news dissemination on relevant or critical topics, ten percentage points more than women. 

 
If we look in detail at the different trends by age groups, we can state that the level of comfort with hard news and soft news created by AI decreases as the age of the respondents increases. There are several factors that can explain this trend, one of them may be the access of young people to mobile devices and social networks that reinforce the capacity for viral dissemination. In addition, greater awareness of traditional media by veteran audiences may be another factor to consider. 

Those most interested in current affairs are more critical of automated news (45%) than the disinterested (38%).

The involvement of artificial intelligence in journalistic routines can also have an impact on the audience's interest in news. AI can significantly define the relationship with the audience and modify the way of satisfying their demand for information. If we focus on the results obtained, we can establish a comparison between compliance and interest with automated and human news. 

Among the participants who express a high Degree interest in news, the possibility of being informed by automated content generates discomfort for 45%, compared to 38% of those who express little involvement in news. Regardless of the Degree of interest in the news, we found higher percentages of conformity with content that has been prepared mainly by journalists. For example, 28% of respondents showed high interest and high Degree compliance with information created by professionals using AI platforms for journalistic purposes. 

News organizations are adopting and reporting on the use of AI technologies for two main reasons: the automation of internal processes (transcription or layout to reduce costs) and the personalization of content to attract new audiences. At the same time, they are seeking to maintain trust in an environment of information saturation in which technology plays a fundamental role. 

As can be seen in the graphs, respondents who adopt a neutral position express some indifference to the way in which news content is produced. For example, 38% of respondents with high interest in news express no objection to the use of AI tools by journalists. Among respondents with low interest in news, we see a slightly greater inclination (40%) for both automated and human news. 

 
In addition to knowing the Degree conformity and news interest, it is appropriate to compare the variations based on the audiences' favorite media for information (traditional media, digital media and social networks). As can be seen in the graph, regardless of the preference for information media, more than 40% of users experience discomfort with the distribution of automated content. The percentage is slightly higher among those whose favorite media are social networks. In the process of registration exhibition through the platforms, the selection of algorithms can have a relevant weight in the organization of news topics. In addition, automated news generate a neutral position in a percentage that exceeds 30%, this data coincides with the appreciations of those who show conformity with human news.

The high conformity with human news is clearly manifested in 30% of the Spanish audience. It should be noted that the figure is slightly higher among those who are informed by digital media. On the other hand, the levels of disinterest towards the integration of AI in human news have percentages higher than 35% in the three modalities. In the case of those who prefer traditional media to be informed (press, radio or television), the percentage reaches 38%. This value is three percentage points below those viewers who are neither comfortable nor uncomfortable with automated news. 

As we have noted previously, as the human factor remains in content development, discomfort with the appropriateness of new strategies that incorporate artificial intelligence decreases. 

Compliance with AI-integrated news and platform trust

Having examined compliance with AI and the audience's preferred news media, it is important to consider how this interaction affects users' trust across platforms. At survey in 2024, Internet users indicated the extent to which they find it easy or difficult to differentiate between trustworthy and untrustworthy news across eight platforms. To establish a comparison between automated and human news, we selected responses from those who find it relatively easy to distinguish trustworthy and untrustworthy information through social networks and Google searches. 

In general terms, different audience behavior can be observed for each type of news. In the first place, the creation of automated news causes sustained discomfort among users of the eight platforms. The values are above 40% and the highest level of dissatisfaction is found among Internet users who rely on X (Twitter) (46%) for news consumption. The percentage of comfort with this news subject stands at 20% and is slightly higher in the case of those who rely on TikTok for news enquiry . 

Second, news created by journalists generates greater comfort among respondents. For example, 37% of people who rely on LinkedIn for news consumption are very comfortable or somewhat comfortable with the presence of journalistic content. Finally, it should be noted that indifference about how news content is produced stands at around 30%, both in human and AI-generated news. Once again, this trend sample shows a certain conformity with the inclusion of AI techniques and tools in journalistic routines.

As we have seen, AI is playing an increasingly important role in the news production process, offering opportunities for efficiency and innovation, while posing new challenges. In addition, social networks play a crucial role in the viralization and distribution of information, amplifying both the reach and impact of the news generated.

A significant phenomenon associated with news consumption through social networks is known as "News Finds Me"(NFM). This concept reflects a significant change in the way people access information. Traditionally, being well informed required an active search for news, especially about public affairs. However, in the current context, many individuals perceive that they do not need to deliberately search for news, as they are confident that they will receive important and relevant information directly through their social network connections.