The Pope’s Warnings About AI Were AI-Generated, a Detection Tool Claims

A recently enhanced Chrome extension by Pangram Labs is shedding light on the growing prevalence of AI-created content across major social media platforms. The extension, which users can add to Chrome for a monthly fee, automatically scans posts and labels them as either human-written, AI-generated, or AI-assisted, providing a confidence measure for each classification.

How the Pangram Labs Tool Works

This tool, acclaimed for its accuracy by independent researchers, operates in real time on platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Medium, and Substack. Instead of requiring users to copy and paste content into external checkers, it provides instantaneous verdicts as users scroll through their feeds, making AI detection much more accessible.

AI Content Is Everywhere

Recent studies estimate that by 2025, AI will produce more than a third of new websites and a significant amount of social posts. Pangram’s tool brings this reality into stark relief, flagging everything from ordinary Reddit posts to high-profile messages posted on official accounts.

Pope’s AI-Flagged Messages

Among the more surprising discoveries: posts from the Pope’s official X account, including messages warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, were themselves labeled by the extension as likely AI-generated. While some posts are marked as human, many concerning AI or world events received the AI flag, suggesting that official communications may now routinely involve generative AI tools.

Shaping Online Skepticism

The Pangram extension’s real-time detection has the potential to change how users engage with online content, fostering increased skepticism and discernment. As AI-generated material becomes more common—even in places where authenticity is expected—being able to instantly identify its presence is increasingly valuable.

For further reading, you can view the original article by Miles Klee at WIRED.