A global alliance of public broadcasters reports that AI chatbots make errors with news content nearly half the time. The study, which involved 22 public media organizations in 18 countries, indicates potential risks when relying on chatbots for up-to-date and accurate information.

Public media has always taught us to think for ourselves, while artificial intelligence increasingly tempts us to outsource our reasoning. This commentary explores why ensuring funding for public broadcasting is critical in a world where AI seems poised to take over our decision-making.