How people are using generative AI, and what this means for news

2025-10-13 · Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

A Reuters Institute podcast episode and report analyze public responses to AI's growing role in news and society, surveying people in Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK, and USA. The report found a significant increase in generative AI tool usage, with weekly use rising from 18% to 34% year-on-year. ChatGPT leads in popularity, with 22% weekly use across countries, followed by Gemini, Meta's AI, and Microsoft Copilot. Information-seeking is now the top use case for generative AI, surpassing media creation. While 54% of respondents reported seeing AI-generated search answers weekly, only 33% consistently click through to sources, and 50% trust these answers, though conditionally. Most people do not regularly encounter AI features on news sites, and only 12% are comfortable with entirely AI-made news, preferring human-led content with AI assistance.

Key takeaway

For AI Product Managers developing news-related AI features, understand that while general AI usage is rising, public comfort with fully AI-generated news is low. Focus your efforts on AI tools that assist human journalists with back-end tasks like editing or translation, where comfort is higher. Be aware that AI-generated search summaries may reduce direct traffic to news sites, necessitating strategies to re-engage audiences beyond initial search results.

Key insights

Public engagement with generative AI is rapidly increasing, yet trust and comfort with AI in news remain conditional and task-specific.

Principles

• Younger demographics are early adopters of new AI technologies.
• Convenience and usefulness drive AI search answer acceptance.
• Existing trust in news organizations shapes AI adoption perceptions.

Method

The Reuters Institute conducted a survey across six countries (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, UK, USA) to track generative AI usage, engagement with AI search, and perceptions of AI's role in news and society, comparing findings to a previous year's report.

In practice

• Prioritize human oversight in AI-assisted news creation.
• Focus AI news features on back-end tasks like grammar editing.
• Recognize that AI search answers reduce click-through to sources.

Topics

• Generative AI
• AI in Journalism
• AI Search
• Public Perception of AI
• News Consumption

Best for: AI Product Manager, Product Manager, AI Researcher, Tech Journalist, Policy Maker

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.