Tackling the transparency puzzle: Five perspectives from AI disclosure research in news

The question of whether and how to disclose the use of AI in news and journalism remains a complex and unresolved issue. While transparency is often seen as a key principle of journalism, the effectiveness of AI disclosures is far from clear. Research on disclosure effectiveness shows mixed results and remains inconclusive to a certain extent. Some studies indicate that audiences appreciate transparency, while others show that disclosures may have little impact on trust or may even reduce credibility if users perceive AI-generated content as less reliable. Furthermore, different stakeholders such as news organizations, policymakers, or audiences, may have conflicting expectations. This raises some fundamental questions: What do we know about AI disclosures and the research conducted about them? How do AI disclosures in news articles influence audience perceptions of credibility and trust? Which types of audiences notice these AI disclosures, which groups does it benefit, and in what ways? Without clear evidence of their effectiveness, AI disclosures risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than meaningful interventions. Complicating matters further, existing knowledge about AI disclosures in journalism is fragmented across multiple fields, leading to knowledge silos. For example, regulatory frameworks focus on legal obligations and ethical standards, while user experience (UX) research examines how design elements influence reader perception. At the same time, studies on audience preferences explore whether users actually want AI disclosures and how they interpret them. In short, these often-siloed areas of research often operate independently, leading to gaps in our understanding of AI disclosures. In this article, we want to highlight AI disclosures in news organizations from the different disciplines and expertise present in the AI, Media & Democracy Lab where we work. In doing so, we hope to contribute to solving the inherent complex puzzle that AI disclosures pose for news organizations and society. In addition, we offer some recommendations and considerations for further research.