AI Fact-Checker Blinded by Publisher Blocks

TL;DR. An open-source AI fact-checking tool cannot access content from 16 major news organizations, impacting its ability to use reputable sources. - These publishers are blocking AI crawlers, preventing the tool from accessing their content for fact-checking. - The limitation means AI models seeking credible sources default to less reliable or alternative information. - Blocking by news outlets is a business decision amidst licensing disputes, creating an 'AI-free' zone for specific content.

• An open-source AI fact-checking tool attempting to prioritize reputable sources found 16 major news outlets inaccessible to its crawlers.
• Blocked organizations include Reuters, AP, WSJ, NYT, and The Guardian, creating a significant gap in the AI's information pool.
• The author notes this is a rational business decision by publishers due to licensing and litigation, but it has consequences for AI tools relying on general web search for facts.
• The absence of these sources means AI models default to alternative, potentially less authoritative content when instructed to 'use credible sources'.

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