Reddit users were “psychologically manipulated”. An AI was behind it

Researchers from the University of Zurich have caused a major controversy after it was revealed that they secretly deployed AI bots on Reddit’s popular “Change My View” subreddit. Without users’ consent, these bots posed as real individuals—including sensitive identities like trauma counselors and victims of assault—to test the persuasive power of language models. The study has raised profound concerns about ethics, transparency, and user trust in online communities.

AI impersonations spark major ethical concerns

The AI personas created by the researchers included a rape victim, a trauma counselor, and critics of religious groups, among others. While the university claims each AI-generated comment was manually reviewed to prevent harm, the moderators and users argue that the very act of deceiving participants without consent constitutes a serious ethical violation.

The experiment collected sensitive personal data such as users’ gender, age, ethnicity, and political views without their knowledge. Despite issuing a formal warning to the lead researcher, the University of Zurich decided to allow the study’s publication, insisting that the “insights outweigh the minimal risks” involved.

Reddit moderators have strongly criticized the decision, stating that psychological manipulation should never be normalized, even in the name of academic research. The controversy highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations when experimenting with AI in public spaces where users expect genuine human interaction.