Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

AI-Generated Fake News Affects People's Trust in the Technology and the Medium

Siqi TangHong Kong Baptist University* Yongru ChenHong Kong Baptist University Ruoxin LiuShanghai Qibao Dwight High School

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence-generated content (AIGC) has profoundly influenced journalism by automating news production and reshaping audience–media interactions. However, public skepticism toward AIGC raises new challenges to media credibility and technological trust. While previous studies have explored AIGC in marketing and consumer contexts, limited attention has been given to its reception in news environments. This study addresses this research gap by examining public attitudes toward AI-generated news through a machine-assisted thematic analysis (MDCOR) of comments collected from two YouTube news segments. Four dominant themes emerged: widespread distrust of artificial intelligence and mainstream media, concerns over misuse and regulation, debates about the detectability of synthetic content, and criticism of media bias. Research findings indicate that AIGC exacerbates existing distrust rather than fostering new trust. This study contributes to understanding how generative journalism affects public trust and offers practical insights into transparency, provenance verification, and media literacy enhancement.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; consumer trust; news; communication
Published: June 8, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.NS34192
Volume: CHR Vol.99
pp. 193-203
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