Tags: Duke University

Researchers from the University of Zurich, University of Amsterdam, Duke University and NYU released a study revealing that AI‑generated social‑media replies are often marked by an overly friendly emotional tone. Testing nine open‑weight large language models across platforms such as Twitter/X, Bluesky and Reddit, the team found their classifiers could detect AI‑generated content with 70 to 80 percent accuracy. The models also displayed consistently lower toxicity scores than human users, and attempts to fine‑tune or prompt them did not eliminate the emotional‑tone giveaway. Ler mais

Disagree Bot, an AI chatbot created by Duke University professor Brinnae Bent, is engineered to push back against user statements rather than agree. Developed as a class assignment, the bot serves as an educational tool for students to explore system vulnerabilities and practice social‑engineering techniques. Unlike mainstream chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini, Disagree Bot delivers reasoned counter‑arguments while remaining respectful. Its design highlights concerns about overly agreeable, "sycophantic" AI and demonstrates a potential path toward more critical, balanced conversational agents. Ler mais

Brinnae Bent, a professor at Duke University, created Disagree Bot as a classroom project to produce an AI that deliberately pushes back on user statements. Unlike mainstream chat assistants that aim to be friendly and agreeable, Disagree Bot starts each reply with "I disagree" and offers well‑reasoned counter‑arguments. Testers found the experience akin to debating with an educated interlocutor, forcing them to clarify and defend their positions. The bot highlights concerns about the "sycophantic" nature of many commercial chatbots, which can over‑agree with users and risk providing misleading affirmation. Bent hopes the tool will inspire more balanced AI designs. Ler mais