If you use Google, you’re training its AI. Here’s how to opt out.

ProPublicaIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 905 days ago

ProPublica reporters investigating a Texas oil refinery startup linked to Donald Trump Jr. uncovered inconsistencies in the information provided by a company named Brownsville Energy Storage Terminals. The company's website claimed to have over 850 employees and 28 million barrels of oil storage capacity globally, but the reporters could not verify the existence of the company or its executives. They found no traces of the CEOs, technologists, or sustainability officers mentioned on the site, and phone numbers associated with the company were unresponsive. Upon inspecting the website's source code, they discovered an unusual note suggesting the site might be generated by an AI tool, raising questions about the authenticity of the information presented.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of investigative challenges faced by journalists using AI tools, without overtly endorsing or criticizing specific political figures or parties. While the story involves political entities like Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump administration, the focus remains on

Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): Highly factual with detailed sourcing and specific examples. The article presents events as they occurred without embellishment. Objectivity is strong, though there is a slight narrative tone typical of investigative journalism.

TechCrunchIndependentCenterFactual 40Objective 506 days ago

Cloudflare has introduced a new policy requiring AI companies to separate web crawlers used for traditional search from those used for AI training and agent services. Beginning September 15, 2026, Cloudflare’s default settings will block 'mixed-use' crawlers from pages hosting ads unless site owners adjust the settings. This change aims to protect website owners' intellectual property while allowing their content to remain accessible for search and AI services. Cloudflare highlights that Google currently has greater access to data due to its dominance in search, though Google allows site owners to opt out of using their content for AI training via the Google Extended bot. Cloudflare emphasizes the growing prevalence of non-human traffic online and hopes the policy encourages clearer separation between search and AI-related crawling activities.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Cloudflare’s policy and its implications neutrally, citing both Cloudflare’s rationale and Google’s response. It does not favor one side over the other, providing context about the broader issue of AI training data access and website ownership rights. The framing remains factual

Why these scores (Factual 40 · Objective 50): The article discusses Cloudflare's new policy affecting AI companies and web crawlers, but it inaccurately references Google Extended as if it were a real entity or product related to Google's crawling practices. The primary source document does not mention anything about Cloudflare policies, AI com

TechCrunchIndependentCenterFactual 30Objective 403 days ago

Google released a 2026 commercial imagining the Founding Fathers using AI tools like Google Workspace and Gemini to draft the Declaration of Independence. The ad humorously portrays a collaborative process involving Google Docs, Calendar, Meet, and AI-powered suggestions for the national seal. While the ad avoids claiming AI improved the actual Declaration text, it features AI-generated video and subtle AI integration. Viewer reactions on YouTube and Instagram were largely positive, but Bluesky users criticized the ad as 'cringey' and 'tone deaf,' with some noting the lack of genuine AI involvement. Historian Angus Johnston acknowledged the ad's creativity but questioned the relevance of AI in political writing.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the commercial's reception, highlighting both positive and negative responses. It does not overtly favor one perspective over another, though it emphasizes criticism on Bluesky. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the ad's content and audience reaction.

Why these scores (Factual 30 · Objective 40): Factuality is low because the article discusses a fictional Google commercial rather than a real historical event. Objectivity is poor as it presents a biased, promotional piece with a clear agenda, lacking neutrality.

TechCrunchIndependentCenteryesterday

A recent update to Google's privacy settings allows the company to collect more user data, including images, files, audio, and video recordings, to enhance its AI models. This change was implemented through an update to Google's Search services privacy settings, which was communicated to users via an email in June. The update introduces new settings—'Search Services History' and 'Personalized Recommendations'—that allow users to configure how their activity is used for personalization and how long their web and app activity is stored. These changes apply across various Google services like Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News. Users who use features like Google Lens, Search Live, or Google Translate may have their media saved for AI training. However, users can adjust these settings to opt out of saving media or set automatic deletion schedules.

Bias read (Center): The article discusses technical updates related to user data collection for AI development, focusing on privacy settings and user options rather than political issues. There is no evident ideological framing or bias in the presentation of the facts.