Brief conversations with an artificial intelligence chatbot trained to counter antisemitic conspiracy theories significantly reduced belief in such views and improved attitudes toward Jews, according to a new study published Thursday by independent researchers with support from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
The study involved 1,224 adults in the United States who endorsed at least one of six antisemitic conspiracy theories. Participants engaged in a short dialogue with Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a large language model designed to challenge and refute false claims. After a single interaction, researchers found a 16% drop in belief in antisemitic conspiracies and a 25% increase in positive sentiment toward Jews among those who initially held negative views.
The study also showed lasting effects: around 50% of the initial decrease in conspiracy belief persisted a month after the intervention. The AI conversations addressed a wide range of antisemitic claims, from supposed Jewish control of the media and U.S. government to Holocaust denial and theories blaming Jews for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What’s remarkable about these findings is that factual debunking works even for conspiracy theories with deep historical roots and strong connections to identity and prejudice,” David Rand, a Cornell University professor who was the study’s senior author, said in a statement.
“Our artificial intelligence debunker bot typically doesn’t rely on emotional appeals, empathy-building exercises, or anti-bias tactics to correct false beliefs,” Rand continued, referring to practices frequently employed by advocates seeking to fight antisemitism, including at the ADL. “It mostly provides accurate information and evidence-based counterarguments, demonstrating that facts still matter in changing minds.”
A 2024 ADL study revealed widespread and growing support for antisemitic beliefs among the general population. Nearly a quarter of the initial sample in the new survey endorsed three or more antisemitic conspiracy theories, with the most common being the claim that powerful Jewish families control global events.
Moreover, the study — like previous ADL research — found a distinct link between belief in antisemitic conspiracy theories and prejudice against Jews, a connection stronger than that between general conspiratorial thinking and antisemitism.
The findings challenge the assumption that antisemitic beliefs, rooted in identity and historical prejudice, are immune to factual correction. A previous study by the same research team showed similar results for classical conspiracy theories, but this is the first to demonstrate that AI-based refutation can reduce both antisemitic beliefs and the biases they reinforce.
“For millennia, antisemitic conspiracy theories have fueled hatred and violence against Jewish people,” said ADL CEO and National Director Jonathan Greenblatt. “At ADL, we are constantly innovating to find new ways to counter this age-old hatred with modern technology – it’s now very encouraging to see that even deeply entrenched prejudice can be effectively challenged by promising new tools that could reach millions at scale.”
“This research shows the potential is enormous, the next step is figuring out how to leverage this to meet people where they are and get them to use these tools,” said Matt Williams, Vice President of the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research. “We must explore strategies like integration into search engines and social media platforms, recommendations from trusted messengers and public awareness campaigns.”