This opinion was contributed by Supervisor Dom Zanger. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aqui.

I am writing to express concern about a growing trend in local media: the submission of letters that appear to be generated entirely by AI tools like ChatGPT yet are presented as the writer’s own original thoughts.

Let’s be clear: there is a difference between using a tool and replacing your voice with it. When someone copies and pastes a fully generated response and submits it under their own name, it raises serious questions about authenticity, integrity, and trust. At its core, this practice closely resembles plagiarism—presenting words and ideas that are not genuinely one’s own without acknowledgment.

Why this matters:

  • It erodes authenticity. Letters to the editor are meant to reflect real community voices—not polished, generic outputs.
  • It misleads readers. People believe they are hearing from a neighbor, not an algorithm.
  • It lowers the value of discourse. Original thought—even imperfect—is far more meaningful than synthetic perfection.

Public letters have long been a space for personal perspective, lived experience, and genuine opinion. When AI-generated content is passed off as original writing, that authenticity is diluted. Readers are no longer engaging with a real voice, but with something that could have been generated by anyone, anywhere.

This is not an argument against technology. It is a call for transparency and honesty:

  • If AI is used, say so.
  • Better yet, write your own thoughts—even if they’re rough around the edges.

A sincere, imperfect letter will always carry more weight than one that is technically polished but personally empty.

Local media plays a critical role in fostering trust and civic dialogue. That trust depends on contributions being what they claim to be: real people, expressing real opinions.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
written by ChatGPT

– Dom Zang

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