“I Resist”. A Study of Individual Attitudes Towards Generative AI in Journalism and Acts of Resistance, Risk Perceptions, Trust and Credibility

With the growing proliferation of generative AI, discussions about the societal implications of AI, including opportunities and risks, have intensified. Ultimately, the success of initiatives to integrate (generative) AI into news production and dissemination will depend on the concerns, trust, and willingness of citizens to accept new AI-driven solutions. This study explores attitudes toward the use of AI in journalism, perceptions of generative AI, and how these factors influence trust in and credibility of information. Using a survey on a representative sample of the Dutch population (<i>N</i> = 1478), we analyze perceived benefits and concerns about AI and explore individual acts of resistance against the application of AI in journalism (e.g., unwillingness to pay for news that AI produces). With this study, we extend previous research on attitudes towards AI by also considering general attitudes towards generative AI, individuals’ risk perceptions towards generative AI, and policy support regarding regulating AI. More importantly, this study also investigates individual follow-up actions in the form of acts of resistance against the use of AI in journalism. The findings of this paper are particularly significant due to the rapid growth of generative AI, its integration into the news cycle, and international policy developments.