Report Of South Jersey Fatal Shooting False, Created By AI: Police

BRIDGETON, NJ — An online article circulated about a fatal shooting on Christmas Day in South Jersey. But local police said the incident never occurred.

The article, posted on NewsBreak, was produced with artificial intelligence, according to the website's disclaimer. The unverified "news" of the deadly shooting in Bridgeton has been published on multiple websites.

But the story is "entirely false," authorities said Wednesday. Bridgeton police shared the following:

"This 'article' is circulating social media and was brought to BPD's attention. It is entirely false. Nothing even similar to this story occurred on or around Christmas, or even in recent memory for the area they described. The article does not have an author and states at the bottom, 'This post includes content assisted by AI tools. This content was assisted by AI and may contain errors. Please verify critical information with trusted sources.' It seems this 'news' outlet's AI writes fiction they have no problem publishing to readers."

The story is no longer published on the NewsBreak link as of noon Wednesday.

A website called findplace.xyz shared the same Bridgeton incident that never occurred. Findplace.xyz calls itself a "central hub" for local news and current events but also warns that the website "cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information."

Neither article lists a direct source or a byline. And it's unclear how the websites may have gathered the false information.

Through AI software, media outlets and websites can share articles produced by computers rather than humans. The programs typically interpret and present information in a readable fashion and can be customized to fit certain tones or writing styles.

AI reporting can produce articles faster than humans and provide journalists with more time to focus on more complex coverage. But critics say the technology could cost journalists their jobs and provide the public with false information.

The NewsBreak article, which Bridgeton police called false, ends with the following: "This post includes content assisted by AI tools. This content was assisted by AI and may contain errors. Please verify critical information with trusted sources."

Concerns of copyright infringement have also been raised. The New York Times recently sued Open AI and Microsoft, claiming the platforms have disseminated the media outlet's articles with automated chatbots.

NewsBreak also has a general disclaimer about content generated from AI:

"While we strive to provide you with the most accurate, comprehensive, and timely information from credible sources, we cannot guarantee the content generated by AI absolute accuracy or appropriateness for your specific needs. The opinions expressed in the content belong to the original source or the AI model and do not necessarily reflect the views of our organization. We strongly recommend that you verify any information before relying on it and consult a qualified professional for professional advice or decision-making."

NewsBreak says it has more than 50 million users.

Patch contacted both websites for comment but didn't immediately receive a response.