The LA Times’ AI ‘bias meter’ looks like a bid to please Donald Trump

[Hume]

Articles about Trump-related policies have gotten the bias meter treatment – for example, an opinion piece on Ukraine that stated that “Trump is surrendering a century’s worth of US global power in a matter of weeks.” According to the Guardian’s Lois Beckett, that piece is followed by an AI-generated summary of “different views”, such as describing Trump’s policy as “a pragmatic reset of US foreign policy”.

The LA Times’ AI ‘bias meter’ looks like a bid to please Donald Trump | Margaret Sullivan

The paper’s billionaire owner, who barred it from endorsing Kamala Harris, is leaving human journalists out of the equation

www.theguardian.com

 

[Hume]

"Another piece, reflecting on the history of the KKK in Anaheim, California, included an AI-generated defense of the Klan at the bottom, as the tech journalist Ryan Mac pointed out. It’s since been removed.

 

[Diogenes]

Whether the LA Times’ AI “bias meter” is a bid to please Donald Trump is a matter of interpretation, and there’s no definitive proof either way—it hinges on intent, which isn’t fully clear from available evidence.

The tool, introduced by the paper’s billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, labels opinion pieces on a political spectrum (e.g., “center-left”) and offers AI-generated “different views” to counterbalance them.

Critics, like Margaret Sullivan in The Guardian, argue it’s a move to appease Trump, pointing to Soon-Shiong’s recent actions—such as blocking an endorsement of Kamala Harris, praising Trump’s cabinet picks, and adding conservative voices like Scott Jennings to the editorial board. They see it as part of a pattern of shifting the paper toward Trump-friendly territory, especially given Soon-Shiong’s biotech interests, which could benefit from favorable relations with a Trump-led FDA.

On the flip side, Soon-Shiong frames it as a push for “viewpoint diversity” and rebuilding trust, not a personal nod to Trump. He’s said on podcasts and in statements that he wants to break the “echo chamber” and let readers see “both sides,” suggesting a broader goal of neutrality rather than targeted flattery.

The timing—post-Trump’s 2024 win—and the paper’s staff backlash, including resignations over perceived pro-Trump meddling, fuel the skepticism.

Without inside access to Soon-Shiong’s motives, it’s speculative. The bias meter could be a pragmatic business move, a genuine stab at balance, or a subtle play for Trump’s favor—or all three.


@Grok