A new investigation by the BBC has revealed that leading artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots frequently misrepresent and distort news stories, raising concerns over the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated content.

The research evaluated four major AI models—OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s Gemini, and Perplexity AI—by feeding them content from the BBC website and asking them questions about the news. The findings showed that more than half of the AI-generated responses contained significant inaccuracies.

AI ‘Playing with Fire’ in News Summarization

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, warned in a blog post that while AI presents “endless opportunities,” it also carries serious risks.

“How long will it be before an AI-distorted headline causes significant real-world harm?” she asked, calling on AI companies to “pull back” their news summaries.

Key Findings from the BBC Study

The BBC’s investigation involved 100 news stories, with journalists—who were experts in the respective fields—fact-checking the AI-generated summaries. The results were concerning:

• 51% of AI responses contained significant issues
• 19% of responses that cited BBC content contained factual errors, including incorrect dates, numbers, and statements
• AI models failed to differentiate between fact and opinion, often editorializing content instead of summarizing it accurately

Specific inaccuracies included:

• Google’s Gemini falsely stating that the NHS does not recommend vaping as a smoking cessation aid
• ChatGPT and Copilot incorrectly claiming that Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon were still in office after they had left
• Perplexity misquoting BBC News in a story about the Middle East, incorrectly stating that Iran initially showed “restraint” while describing Israel’s actions as “aggressive”

Among the four AI models, the study found that Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini produced the most significant inaccuracies, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity performed slightly better.

BBC Calls for AI Transparency and Control

In response to the findings, Pete Archer, the BBC’s Programme Director for Generative AI, emphasized that publishers should have control over how their content is used.

He urged AI companies to provide transparency on how their models process and summarize news while also revealing the scale and frequency of errors in their outputs.

Although the BBC typically blocks AI bots from accessing its content, it temporarily lifted these restrictions for the study in December 2024.

Turness stressed the need for a collaborative effort between news organizations and AI developers to find solutions, citing Apple’s decision to pull back its AI-generated news summaries after the BBC raised similar concerns.

As AI-powered news summaries become increasingly prevalent, the report highlights the potential dangers of misinformation and distortion, reinforcing the urgent need for greater oversight and responsible AI development in journalism.

A TikTok executive has acknowledged that data sought by grieving parents, who believe their children died attempting a viral challenge on the platform, may have already been removed due to legal and data protection policies.

The lawsuit, filed against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, involves the deaths of Isaac Kenevan, Archie Battersbee, Julian “Jools” Sweeney, and Maia Walsh—all between 12 and 14 years old. The parents allege that their children lost their lives after attempting the “blackout challenge”, a dangerous trend where individuals intentionally deprive themselves of oxygen.

Parents Seek Answers, TikTok Cites Legal Limitations

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Safer Internet Day, Giles Derrington, senior government relations manager at TikTok, said the company was in contact with some of the parents and acknowledged their “unfathomably tragic” losses. However, he emphasized that TikTok might no longer have the data being requested.

“This is really complicated because it relates to the legal requirements around when we remove data,” Derrington explained. “We have, under data protection laws, requirements to remove data quite quickly. That impacts on what we can do.”

Families of the victims, however, have accused TikTok of lacking transparency and compassion.

Ellen Roome, mother of 14-year-old Jools, has been campaigning for legislation that would grant parents access to their deceased child’s social media accounts.

Lisa Kenevan, mother of 13-year-old Isaac, questioned TikTok’s handling of the situation, saying: “Why hold back on giving us the data? How can they sleep at night?”

Derrington defended the platform, stating that data deletion policies are legally mandated and that TikTok does not have hidden information it is withholding from parents.

“Everyone expects that when we are required by law to delete some data, we will have deleted it,” he said. “This is a more complicated situation than us just having something we’re not giving access to.”

Legal Battle and TikTok’s Defense

The Social Media Victims Law Center, a U.S.-based organization, is representing the families in court. The lawsuit alleges TikTok failed to enforce its own safety rules, allowing the blackout challenge to circulate widely in 2022 despite platform policies prohibiting content that promotes dangerous behavior.

TikTok, however, insists the blackout challenge predates the platform and that no evidence suggests it ever “trended” on TikTok.

“We have never found any evidence that the blackout challenge has been trending on the platform,” Derrington said. “Since 2020, we have completely banned even being able to search for the words ‘blackout challenge’ or variants of it, to make sure that no one is coming across that kind of content.”

TikTok’s Safety Measures Under Scrutiny

TikTok says it is investing heavily in content moderation, with over $2 billion (£1.6 billion) allocated this year alone and tens of thousands of human moderators reviewing posts globally.

The platform has also launched an online safety hub to provide resources for users and parents on how to stay safe.

Despite these measures, the grieving families believe more must be done to prevent similar tragedies and hold tech companies accountable.

“This is a really, really tragic situation,” Derrington said. “But we are constantly working to make sure that people are safe on TikTok.”

As the lawsuit unfolds, the case will likely fuel ongoing debates about social media responsibility, parental control over digital content, and the effectiveness of platform safety policies.

A new frontier in space exploration is emerging—not in deep space, but in the very edge of Earth’s atmosphere. Companies and researchers are racing to develop Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites, which could revolutionize communications, Earth imaging, and scientific research.

The Promise and Challenge of VLEO

Traditional satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond, at altitudes above 250 miles (400 km). But VLEO, which extends from just below the International Space Station (ISS) down to around 60 miles (100 km), offers a new opportunity. Satellites here can provide higher-resolution imagery, faster communication, and real-time atmospheric data. However, they must contend with the intense drag of Earth’s upper atmosphere, which can quickly pull them out of orbit.

“The atmosphere increases exponentially as you descend,” explains Hugh Lewis, a professor of astronautics at the University of Southampton. “If you don’t counteract drag, your satellite won’t last long.”

To survive in VLEO, new propulsion technologies are needed. One promising approach is Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP), which collects air molecules from the atmosphere and converts them into fuel. If successful, this method could allow satellites to maintain orbit indefinitely without the need for onboard fuel.

The Race to Build Air-Breathing Satellites

Several companies are already developing VLEO satellites. Stellar Advanced Concepts, a UK-based firm, received a £390,000 ($510,000) grant to demonstrate ABEP technology by 2027. Similarly, Kreios Space, a Spanish start-up, aims to launch a prototype in 2026 to test how well satellites can sustain themselves at lower altitudes.

In the U.S., the Department of Defense’s Otter program has allocated over $20 million to support air-breathing VLEO satellites. One of the companies benefiting from this funding is Redwire, which is developing an “orbital drone” called SabreSat. Designed with aerodynamic solar panels, SabreSat could stay in VLEO for extended periods.

“The intent is to maintain orbit indefinitely,” says Spence Wise, senior vice president at Redwire.

Meanwhile, Redwire’s European division is working on a separate project called Phantom, part of the European Space Agency’s Skimsat initiative. Set for a 2027-2028 launch, Phantom won’t use air-breathing technology but will instead rely on a streamlined design to minimize drag.

Why VLEO Matters

VLEO satellites offer several advantages over traditional orbiters. Earth observation is a major application, as satellites closer to the planet can capture higher-resolution images for use in military, agriculture, disaster response, and climate research.

“There are lots of applications in maritime tracking, wildfire monitoring, and even atmospheric science,” says Adrián Senar Tejedor, CEO of Kreios Space.

Additionally, VLEO could transform satellite communications. Space-based internet services, like SpaceX’s Starlink, currently use satellites in higher orbits. Lower-altitude satellites could act like cell towers in space, providing faster and more direct connections.

“These lower orbits could enable a direct-to-cell constellation,” explains Tim Farrar, a satellite communications expert.

The Future of VLEO

While VLEO satellites are still in the experimental phase, companies and governments are investing heavily in the technology. If air-breathing propulsion proves viable, these satellites could remain in orbit for years or even decades—ushering in a new era of persistent, low-altitude space observation and communication.

“I expect VLEO to become increasingly popular,” says Alex Newsam of Stellar Advanced Concepts. “Whoever perfects the technology first will have a significant advantage in the market.”

With major players racing to unlock the potential of VLEO, the next chapter of space exploration may not be in deep space—but right above our heads.