Google AI Overviews may spread conspiracy theories, study finds

A study by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) suggests that Google’s AI Overviews feature may inadvertently promote conspiracy theories rather than debunking them.

The research compared AI-generated summaries, source links, and traditional search results regarding two topics: chemtrails and 15-minute cities. The study found that for less established conspiracy theories, such as the 15-minute city concept—an urban planning model—the AI summaries often presented false claims as part of a legitimate debate. Specifically, 12.5 percent of analyzed AI overviews regarding 15-minute cities included misinformation, sometimes including claims about technological surveillance and population control.

In contrast, the AI handled the more established chemtrail conspiracy theory more effectively, though researchers noted that the debunking was often superficial, merely labeling the claims as misinformation without deep correction. The researchers recommend implementing stronger protective mechanisms to prevent the legitimization of conspiracy narratives through AI-generated content.