Social media is rife with AI-generated content, and it’s not just LinkedIn

The rise of AI-generated content on professional networking and social media platforms is fundamentally changing how users interact with and consume online content, particularly on LinkedIn where more than half of longer posts may be AI-created.

Key findings: Recent analysis by AI detection startup Originality AI reveals a significant shift in LinkedIn content creation patterns.

• A study of 8,800 public LinkedIn posts found that 54% of longer English-language posts are likely AI-generated
• AI-generated content on LinkedIn increased by 189% in early 2023, coinciding with ChatGPT’s release
• LinkedIn’s Premium users now have access to an in-app AI tool for content rewording

Platform response: LinkedIn has implemented measures to manage the proliferation of AI-generated content while simultaneously embracing AI technology.

• The platform actively identifies and limits the promotion of low-quality and duplicate content
• The company has integrated AI capabilities into its premium service offerings
• LinkedIn does not currently track AI tool usage across its platform

Broader social media impact: The trend extends beyond LinkedIn to other major social platforms, with Meta leading the charge in AI content integration.

• Meta reports over 500 million monthly users for its AI chatbot
• AI-generated images on Facebook have achieved hundreds of millions of engagements
• One AI-generated image ranked among Facebook’s top 20 most-viewed posts in Q3 2023, garnering 40 million views

Content quality concerns: The proliferation of AI-generated content raises significant questions about online information quality and authenticity.

• The increasing volume of AI content could lead to more low-quality posts dominating social media feeds
• There are growing concerns about the potential spread of AI-generated misinformation
• The ability to distinguish between human and AI-generated content is becoming increasingly challenging

Future implications: As AI content generation tools become more sophisticated and accessible, social platforms face the complex challenge of balancing innovation with content quality and authenticity, while users must develop stronger critical awareness when consuming social media content.