How Far Did They Go? The Persuasive Tactics of Covert LLM Agents in a Discontinued Field Experiment
This study analyzes a publicly released dataset from a discontinued field experiment on Reddit's r/ChangeMyView. The intervention, conducted by unknown, external researchers and halted following ethical backlash, involved undisclosed AI-generated accounts engaging users in live debate. After public disclosure, Reddit authorized moderators to release an archive of the AI-generated comments, creating a rare opportunity to examine how large language m
By Kokil Jaidka, Saifuddin Ahmed