THE EXPLORATION OF CHATGPT USERS’ PERCEIVED TRUTH AND INFORMATION VERIFICATION IN CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS

With the increasing use of artificial intelligence, ChatGPT has become part of Generation Z’s daily information practices, particularly when engaging with sensitive issues. This study aims to explore Generation Z’s experiences in using ChatGPT as a source of information, including how trust is formed and how information is evaluated. Using a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, this study finds that ChatGPT is mainly used as an initial reference rather than a final authority. Trust toward ChatGPT is conditional, and participants actively verify information using other sources. The findings also show that digital literacy influences how Generation Z questions and interprets AI-generated information.