Leading AI platforms including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, Perplexity AI and X's Grok revealed to exhibit pro-Palestinian bias due to citing Al Jazeera

The rise of artificial intelligence (A.I.) chatbots as a primary source of news has brought new challenges, especially in how these systems select information about complex global conflicts. A recent analysis by The Washington Free Beacon reveals that leading A.I. platforms, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, Perplexity AI and X's Grok, rely heavily on Al Jazeera, a media outlet funded by Qatar and accused of having Palestinian terrorists among its ranks, to obtain information about the war between Israel and Hamas.

This trend has raised concerns about the objectivity and accuracy of A.I.-generated news summaries, given Al Jazeera's controversial track record and its alleged ties to Hamas.

Al Jazeera's dominance in A.I. news summaries

According to The Washington Free Beacon, Al Jazeera is one of the main sources cited by A.I. chatbots when answering questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ChatGPT, for example, noted that in the past month it cited Al Jazeera more frequently than media outlets such as The New York Times or the Associated Press, praising the outlet for its "access on the ground," "search visibility," and "academic/library recommendations."

Similarly, Google's Gemini and Perplexity AI rank Al Jazeera among their most trusted sources, with Gemini explicitly avoiding pro-Israeli media due to its alleged hasbara (public relations) efforts, which it considers distinct from journalism.

This reliance is notable given Al Jazeera's track record. The Qatari-controlled media outlet has faced bipartisan criticism in the United States for acting as a Doha-controlled propaganda outlet that has historically amplified extremist content.

In the early 2000s, Al Jazeera was a key platform for Al Qaeda messages and hostage videos, earning a reputation as a terrorist propaganda conduit. More recently, Israel has accused Al Jazeera journalists of being active members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, presenting evidence such as personnel records and lists of training courses to back up these claims. Al Jazeera has claimed this evidence is fabricated.

Implications for A.I.-generated news

A.I.'s reliance on Al Jazeera raises questions about the ability of such chatbots to provide balanced and accurate reporting, especially on polarizing topics such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas. As A.I.-generated summaries are increasingly replacing traditional news sources, the choice of source material becomes crucial. Critics, such as Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), have expressed alarm, telling The Washington Free Beacon that "Al Jazeera is not a news organization, it is a mouthpiece for terrorists like Hamas." He further urged U.S. A.I. companies to reconsider their reliance on such media outlets.

The source selections of the chatbots also reflect broader biases. For example, Gemini includes outlets such as +972 Magazineand Mondoweiss, which are openly critical of Israel and have published content justifying Hamas' actions or comparing the Jewish state to Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, pro-Israeli sources, such as the Anti-Defamation League and HonestReporting, are dismissed as propaganda rather than journalism. This selective targeting can contribute to chatbots' conclusions on controversial topics, such as claims that Israel is committing genocide or causing famine in Gaza, claims that align with Al Jazeera's approach but are disputed by Israel and other sources.

The broader context

The issue highlights the challenges of programming AI to navigate politically charged issues. Although Al Jazeera is praised by A.I. chatbots for its regional access and extensive coverage, its funding by Qatar, a country with documented ties to Hamas, complicates its credibility. The U.S. Justice Department's 2020 order for AJ+, Al Jazeera's youth-focused digital media outlet, to register as a foreign agent reinforces these concerns. However, A.I. systems, designed to prioritize "reputable" sources based on metrics such as visibility and academic endorsements, seem to overlook this criticism.

As A.I. continues to shape how people consume news, the need for transparency in source selection and algorithmic decision making becomes critical. Findings from The Washington Free Beacon underscore the importance of critically evaluating the information provided by A.I. chatbots, particularly when their reliance on outlets such as Al Jazeera may skew perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.