White House’s MAHA Report Criticized for AI-Generated Inaccuracies

The White House’s “MAHA Report: Making Our Children Healthy Again,” led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is under scrutiny for containing numerous scientific inaccuracies and AI-generated citations. The report aims to address declining life expectancy in the U.S. by examining factors like environmental toxins, poor nutrition, and excessive screen time.

Key Issues Identified:

• AI-Generated Citations: Out of 522 footnotes, at least 37 were repeated, and several referenced non-existent studies. Some citations included markers like “oaicite,” indicating the use of AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
• Inaccurate References: Examples include a fabricated study titled “Overprescribing of Oral Corticosteroids for Children With Asthma” and misattributed authors in articles about children’s physical activity.
• Dead Links: Approximately 21 of the cited links were inactive, further questioning the report’s reliability.

Expert Opinions:

• Oren Etzioni, an AI expert, labeled the report as “shoddy work,” emphasizing the need for better standards.
• Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, stated that the report lacks evidence-based content and should not be used for policymaking.

While minor corrections have been made, such as updating dead links and correcting author attributions, critics argue that the report’s reliance on unverified AI-generated material undermines its credibility and scientific integrity.

For more details, read the full article on The Washington Post: White House MAHA Report may have garbled science by using AI, experts say.