Challenging health misinformation? People are more likely to believe AI when it responds with empathy Washington State University | October 15, 2026

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/10/15/challenging-health-misinformation-people-are-more-likely-to-believe-ai-when-it-responds-with-empathy/ At a time of rampant medical misinformation online, artificial intelligence can do a good job of correcting falsehoods, but the tone of the correction is key, according to new research led by Washington State University. For people who view AI strictly as a technical tool, corrections to social media posts offered in a neutral, just-the-facts tone are most persuasive. For those who believe AI can be humanlike, an empathetic, understanding tone is best.