Using an AI-powered “street epistemologist” chatbot and reflection tasks to diminish conspiracy theory beliefs

Abstract

Social scientists, journalists, and policymakers are increasingly interested in methods to mitigate or reverse the public’s beliefs in conspiracy theories, particularly those associated with negative social consequences, including violence. We contribute to this field of research using an artificial intelligence (AI) intervention that prompts individuals to reflect on the uncertainties in their conspiracy theory beliefs. Conspiracy theory believers who interacted with our “street epistemologist” chatbot subsequently showed weaker conviction in their conspiracy theory beliefs; this was also the case for subjects who were asked to reflect on their beliefs without conversing with an AI chatbot. We found that encouraging believers to reflect on their uncertainties can weaken beliefs and that AI-powered interventions can help reduce epistemically unwarranted beliefs for some believers.