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MAGA NEWSPAPER OWNER’S AI BOT DEFENDS KKK  
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Corbin Bolies
March 5, 2025
The Daily Beast [[link removed]]

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_ An AI-generated summary tried to offer “different views” on the
hate group. _

, freepik

 

The _Los Angeles Times _removed its new AI-powered “insights”
feature from a column after the tool tried to defend the Ku Klux Klan.

Columnist Gustavo Arellano’s Feb. 25 column reflected on Anaheim’s
history with the hate group after the city’s council did not
acknowledge the 100th anniversary of booting four Klan-affiliated
council members from the group.

Arellano noted how the group’s presence in the city was a
“stain” on its history, but that leaders should reflect on the
lesson of “how to combat tyranny and white supremacy — and also
that the work is never really done."

But the “perspectives” feature produced by AI company
Perplexity—which debuted on Monday for “Voices” pieces and has
been heavily touted by billionaire owner Dr. Patrick
Soon-Shiong—included a defense for the group under a banner that
offered “different views on the topic.”

“Local historical accounts occasionally frame the 1920s Klan as a
product of ‘white Protestant culture’ responding to societal
changes rather than an explicitly hate-driven movement, minimizing its
ideological threat,” the point read.

Within hours of its debut, the feature was removed from the column. It
remains available on other “Voices” pieces that offer points of
view, which includes news commentary and reviews, among others.

The _Times _did not respond to a request for comment. The gaffe was
first spotted
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York Times _reporter Ryan Mac.

The “Insights” tool allows _Times _readers to generate an
AI-powered summary of the piece’s perspectives along with opposing
views. It also tries to dictate the political bias of each article.
Each summary is topped with a disclaimer: “The following content is
AI-generated and was not created by the editorial staff of the _Los
Angeles Times_."

[The Los Angeles Times building and newsroom.]
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Soon-Shiong, who has tried to court conservative readers, touted the
feature on X on Monday, months after he first unveiled
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for it.

“Now the voice and perspective from all sides can be heard, seen and
read —no more echo chamber," he wrote. “Thanks to our talented
content management software team running this Graphene platform.”

The tool was criticized
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the paper’s union, which said it “risks further eroding confidence
in the news.”

“And the money for this endeavor could have been directed elsewhere:
supporting our journalists on the ground who have had no
cost-of-living increase since 2021,” its vice chair Matt Hamilton
said in a statement, according to _The Hollywood Reporter._

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* Media News
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* KKK
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