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Joe Rogan, AI Chatbots Rise as Key News Sources While Traditional Media Declines

A new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reveals a major shift in how Americans consume news, with podcasters like Joe Rogan and AI chatbots playing a growing role—particularly among younger audiences—while traditional news outlets continue to lose relevance.

In the week following the January 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration, more Americans reported getting news from social and video platforms than from TV, websites, or apps, marking the first time this digital dominance has been recorded in the U.S.

The study, based on a survey of nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries, found the trend especially pronounced among Americans under 35, with over 50% turning to social and video networks as their primary news sources. Globally, 44% of those aged 18–24 also rely on these platforms.

Podcaster Joe Rogan was cited as a news or commentary source by 20% of Americans in the post-inauguration week, making him a top figure in the evolving news landscape. Other widely followed political influencers include Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, and on the left, Brian Tyler Cohen and David Pakman. Most of these top political voices are male, according to the report.

“These creators are attracting audiences traditional media struggle to reach—especially young men, right-leaning users, and people with low trust in mainstream media,” said Nic Newman, Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute.

However, this shift comes with risks. Online influencers are considered major sources of false or misleading information, second only to politicians in the U.S. Over 70% of Americans said they are concerned about distinguishing true from false information online—one of the highest levels globally.

The report also highlights the emerging role of AI in news consumption. Among people under 25, 15% use AI chatbots for news weekly, with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Meta AI being the most cited tools. Overall AI-based news usage remains lower, at 7%, but growing.

This trend may also threaten traditional publishers, as AI tools reduce the need for users to click through to original news websites.

While text remains the preferred format for consuming news globally, about a third of people say they prefer watching, and 15% prefer listening—a shift driven largely by younger audiences.

Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) is seeing a resurgence as a news platform in the U.S., especially among right-leaning users and young men, with 23% of Americans now using it for news—up 8 points from last year. Other alternative platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are struggling to reach even 2% of users.

Despite all these shifts, trust in news has remained steady at 40% globally for the past three years, the report notes.

OpenAI to Continue Collaboration with Scale AI Despite Meta’s Major Stake Purchase

OpenAI confirmed it will maintain its partnership with Scale AI after Meta agreed to acquire a 49% stake in the AI data-labeling startup for $14.8 billion, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said at the VivaTech conference in Paris.

Scale AI is vital for providing the vast volumes of labeled training data essential for advanced AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Despite Meta’s significant investment, OpenAI emphasized it intends to keep working with multiple data vendors rather than exclusively relying on Scale.

Friar highlighted the importance of keeping the AI ecosystem open, cautioning against moves that could slow innovation by locking out competitors. “We don’t want to ice the ecosystem because acquisitions are going to happen,” she said.

Meta’s stake comes as OpenAI’s ChatGPT competes directly with Meta’s Llama AI models. Scale AI’s CEO Alexandr Wang will now lead Meta’s new superintelligence unit, underscoring the startup’s growing influence in the AI space.

Friar also noted the increasing complexity of AI models requires input from a diverse network of human trainers with deep expertise—from academics to scientists—reflecting the growing sophistication in AI development.

OpenAI Explores Funding from Saudi Arabia, India, and UAE Investors for $40 Billion Raise

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), India’s Reliance Industries, and the UAE’s MGX about joining its planned $40 billion financing round, The Information reported on Wednesday. Each investor could contribute hundreds of millions of dollars or more, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The fundraise, reportedly led by SoftBank, aims to support OpenAI’s development of advanced AI models and its ambitious infrastructure project called Stargate. Earlier in 2025, CEO Sam Altman engaged with India’s IT Minister about fostering a low-cost AI ecosystem, and he planned to visit the UAE to pursue funding talks with MGX, sources told Reuters.

OpenAI is also in discussions with U.S. investors Coatue and Founders Fund to secure at least $100 million each. The company anticipates raising an additional $17 billion by 2027 to continue scaling its AI capabilities.

Microsoft-backed OpenAI and the mentioned investors have not yet responded to requests for comment, and Reuters has not independently verified the funding discussions.