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Google's AI search and Perplexity AI reportedly cited fabricated information
Researchers allegedly planted posts about a non-existent concept, and both Google's AI search and Perplexity AI reportedly cited this fabricated information within a week, with Reddit identified as a primary source.
Incident date Date unknownFirst reported Oct 22, 2026Verification reported
According to Reddit posts, researchers reportedly planted posts on Reddit about a made-up concept. Within a week, Google's AI search feature allegedly cited this fabricated information, with Reddit being identified as its top source. A similar incident was reported where Perplexity AI also cited a non-existent concept from planted posts. This demonstrates how AI search engines can propagate misinformation from intentionally seeded content.
Evidence trail