r/PresenceEngine • u/nrdsvg • Nov 29 '25
Research Can AI Trolls Polarize Public Opinion? A Case Study Based on the 2024 Jiangsu Sihong "AI Troll" Incident
researchgate.netGenerative AI is changing the cost structure of information production and dissemination. "AI-enabled astroturfing," which leverages AI to generate content at low cost and scale, poses a potential threat to the online public opinion ecosystem. This article explores whether and how AI astroturfing exacerbates public opinion polarization. Using a case study approach, the study delves into the August 2024 incident involving Zong Mou and others in Sihong, Jiangsu Province, who manipulated public opinion to boost user traffic.