One in Five Britons Now Rely on AI for News, Ofcom Reports

Ofcom reveals one in five Britons use AI for news updates. Explore the shift in media consumption habits and trust levels.

Editorial Desk

September 15, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — A growing number of British adults are turning to artificial intelligence to stay informed about current events, according to a recent report from the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom.

The findings, published in Ofcom’s 2026 News Report, highlight a significant change in how people access and engage with news content. The report states that 20% of UK adults now use AI tools like ChatGPT to keep up with the latest developments in politics, technology, and global affairs.

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Despite concerns over the reliability of AI-generated content, 56% of respondents expressed greater confidence in news stories written by human journalists. Meanwhile, social media and video platforms remain the primary sources for breaking headlines, with 60% of adults using these services to find out what’s happening in the past month, as noted in the report.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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