Unapproved AI Experiment Conducted on Reddit’s r/ChangeMyView, Moderators Report
The well-known debate subreddit r/ChangeMyView (CMV) was the location of a lengthy, unauthorized AI experiment carried out by a group of unidentified researchers, allegedly linked to the University of Zurich, as stated by the moderators of the subreddit.
In a pinned announcement from the CMV moderation team, they revealed that they were alerted in March to a secret four-month research initiative utilizing AI-driven bots to interact with users in discussions. The bots aimed to influence users to alter their viewpoints on various contentious subjects. This experiment, initially highlighted by 404 Media, utilized fake Reddit accounts and a data-scraping tool that examined users’ posting histories to create more tailored and convincing replies.
r/ChangeMyView stands out as one of Reddit’s most recognized platforms for respectful dialogue. Users share their perspectives on issues like politics, religion, and social topics, while others offer counterpoints. When the initial poster has a change of heart, they commend the persuader with a “Delta” (Δ).
The moderators indicated that the researchers operated no fewer than 13 accounts and produced thousands of comments. Some AI-generated personas portrayed themselves as abuse survivors, a trauma counselor, or a Black individual voicing dissent regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. The designers of the project stated that while the comments were produced by AI, they were vetted and published by human researchers, ensuring what they termed as “significant human oversight.”
Reddit has subsequently suspended most of the accounts involved due to violations of its Terms of Service. Nevertheless, archived versions of certain AI-generated comments can still be accessed via the web archiving service Archive.today.
One notable comment, authored by the now-banned user u/markusruscht, claimed to represent a center-right person with a Hispanic spouse. This comment responded to a thread titled, “CMV: the western left is destroying themselves and pushing minorities toward the right/conservative side,” and received 12 Deltas for its compelling argument.
Following the disclosure, CMV moderators filed an ethical complaint with the University of Zurich. They urged that the research not be published, sought disciplinary measures against the researchers, and called for a public apology. Both the moderators and numerous users voiced their anger over the absence of informed consent — a fundamental principle of ethical research involving human subjects.
Although informed consent can be waived under certain circumstances, such as when the research entails minimal risk or when obtaining consent would jeopardize the study’s validity, the moderators contended that the experiment breached ethical limits.
The University of Zurich’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Ethics Commission responded to the complaint by indicating it considers the issue seriously. However, the commission clarified that it lacks the power to prevent the publication of the research. The university stated it conducted an in-depth investigation, issued a formal warning to the project’s Principal Investigator, and pledged stricter oversight of future research. This includes necessitating researchers to collaborate with online communities prior to undertaking similar experiments.
The moderators shared part of the university’s response, which stated: “This project produces important knowledge, and the risks (e.g. trauma etc.) are minimal. Thus, suppressing publication is not justified relative to the significance of the knowledge the study produces.”
The identities of the researchers remain concealed. While the CMV moderation team claims knowledge of the Principal Investigator’s identity, they have opted to respect the researchers’ desire for anonymity. When approached by 404 Media’s Jason Koebler, the moderators chose not to disclose additional information.
This incident has ignited renewed discourse on the ethics of AI research in public online domains and the accountability of academic institutions in supervising such activities.