Over half of LinkedIn posts likely created by AI, study finds

A recent analysis by AI detection tool Originality AI has revealed that over 54 percent of longer English-language posts on LinkedIn are likely generated by artificial intelligence. This analysis, initially published in WIRED, identifies a significant uptick in AI-generated content on the platform, coinciding with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, which has since gained substantial traction throughout 2023.

To complete this examination, Originality AI reviewed a comprehensive sample of 8,795 public posts. In order to qualify, posts were required to exceed 100 words and be published between January 2018 and October 2024. Findings indicated that prior to 2023, the presence of AI-generated posts was negligible. However, a marked spike in such posts was observed at the start of 2023, with the number rising by 189 percent. This figure has since stabilised, with approximately half of all long-form English posts now believed to be produced with the assistance of AI.

LinkedIn, which operates under the Microsoft umbrella, is increasingly positioning itself as a technology-driven platform, particularly in relation to AI. It offers LinkedIn Premium subscribers access to its proprietary AI writing tools designed to assist users in editing posts, messages, and profiles.

Adam Walkiewicz, LinkedIn’s head of feed relevance, commented on the platform’s efforts to maintain content quality, saying, “When we detect such content, we take action to ensure it is not broadly promoted.” This statement underscores the platform’s commitment to counteracting low-quality contributions and exact or near-exact duplicated content.

In interviews with WIRED, various LinkedIn users shared their reasons for leveraging AI post generators. Non-native English speakers frequently reported using these tools to rectify grammatical errors, while others preferred to use generators for creating initial drafts that could later be refined. Aspiring influencers also adopted the strategy of utilising AI-generated posts to produce a continuous stream of content, optimising their visibility within the platform’s algorithm.

Despite some users being transparent about their reliance on AI for post creation or editing, many chose to keep this information undisclosed, complicating the assessment of which posts truly belong to the estimated 54 percent that are AI-generated. As AI continues to evolve, its influence on professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn raises important considerations for content originality and engagement strategies within the digital landscape.

Source: Noah Wire Services