If You Knew AI Wrote This, Would You Keep Reading?

AI-generated content is now common across the web, and platforms are labeling it to help audiences navigate the shift. A recent HackerNoon poll found that 31% of readers trust AI-tagged content less, 19% trust it more, 20% don’t care, and 13% actively seek it out. Academic research mirrors these divided opinions, showing that context—like explaining how and why AI was used—can influence perceptions. Whether seen as a trust badge or a red flag, the “AI-generated” label is here to stay, and how it’s implemented will shape the future of online trust.

It’s official: AI-generated content is everywhere. From news blurbs to blog posts, it’s quickly weaving itself into the fabric of online media. To help users navigate this shift, platforms are experimenting with labels—some automated, others manually reviewed.

But what happens when audiences ...