Bots are writing inaccurate articles about operations at Pearson, airport warns

A passenger waits beside their luggage at the departure terminal at Toronto Pearson Airport, in Mississauga, Ont., Friday, May 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Canada’s largest airport is warning of an influx of “AI-generated articles” with inaccurate information about airport operations, a spokesperson says.

In a statement to CP24, an official with Toronto Pearson International Airport said the spike in AI-generated articles involve “clickbait sites” that use bots and “viral distribution methods” to source and write stories with false information about on-time performance, delays, and cancellations.

“Many of these sites feature articles by bot authors that pen upward of 100 articles a day with false figures, no attempted verification and misleading context that implies system-wide cascades,” the statement read.

AI websites that have been known to publish unverified information include:

• TheTraveler.org
• Toronto Digest
• Travel and Tour World
• NomadLawyer
• Travel Tourister

The spokesperson noted that passengers should rely on airlines for accurate information about delays and cancellations.

“Many airport websites, including TorontoPearson.com, also include live information on operations, including detailed breakdowns of daily flights, cancellations and delays," the statement continued.

CTV News has reached out to all the organizations the airport mentioned, and asked for responses to the allegations of AI-driven misinformation. None of them responded immediately.