Iowa State University researchers dive into language that humanizes AI systems Brooklyn Draisey Iowa Capital Dispatch Feb 19, 2026 Feb 19, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Iowa State University researchers received unexpected answers to the question of how often people humanize artificial intelligence in news writing.kAmt?8=:D9 AC@76DD@C y@ |24<:6H:4K 2?5 y62?:?6 pF?6[ 2? t?8=:D9 E6249:?8 AC@76DD@C 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 E96 25G2?465 4@>>F?:42E:@? AC@8C2>[ C646?E=J AF3=:D965 2 DEF5J @? 9@H AC6G2=6?E E96 FD6 @7 2?E9C@A@>@CA9:K:?8[ @C 9F>2?:K:?8[ =2?8F286 :D H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 AC@8C2>D]k^AmkAm%96J H6C6 DFCAC:D65 E@ 7:?5 E92E px H2D ?@E EJA:42==J 56D4C:365 :? 9F>2? E6C>D] tG6? E96 FD6 @7 9F>2?:K:?8 G6C3D =:<6 “=62C?D[” H96? 4@?D:56C65 :? 4@?E6IE[ 5:5 ?@E 2=H2JD EC62E E96 E649?@=@8J =:<6 2 A6CD@?]k^Am kAm“xE’D E96 6I24E @AA@D:E6 @7 H92E x H2D 6IA64E:?8[” pF?6 D2:5]k^Am People are also reading… Southwest Iowa Herald Winter Sports All-Area Team Playing defense in football, a special teams touchdown, headline Sump's 4-sport career Shenandoah bowling celebrates season that included 6 program records Clarinda graduate ends college wrestling career as three-time All-American Clarinda's Roop seeks one more big jump to finish 4-sport career Game-winning touchdown highlights McManis' 4-sport career Clarinda, Essex cheerleaders perform at IBCA All-Star Game Army reveals reason for Iowa ammunition plant shutdown Freshmen lead Clarinda Track and Field at Northwest Missouri State Indoor Meet Lahn traveling different path in search of Iowa Republican gubernatorial nomination “I’d follow him anywhere”: How Ben McCollum landed at Iowa, built Hawkeyes’ Elite 8 roster 1 dead following explosion Tuesday afternoon at salvage yard in Bartlett Source: Treasury plans to put Trump's signature on US bills, a first for sitting president World Happiness Report highlights social media's negative impact, ranks Finland as happiest Iowa Department of Corrections hired unlicensed counselor, despite pending charges kAmpF?6 D2:5 E96 A2:C 8@E E96 :562 7@C E9:D C6D62C49 7C@> 2 4@?76C6?46 E96J 2EE6?565] %96 5:D4FDD:@? :?4=F565 E96 DF886DE:@? E92E 65F42E@CD 6>A92D:K6 E92E px :D 2 E@@= E92E 42??@E C6A=246 4@>>F?:42E:@? AC:?4:A=6D 2?5 AC24E:46D 2?5 E@ 2G@:5 2?E9C@A@>@CA9:K:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J H96? E96J E2=< 23@FE :E]k^AmkAmx@H2 $E2E6 2=F>?: H6C6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 DEF5J[ :?4=F5:?8 4FCC6?E qC:892> *@F?8 &?:G6CD:EJ 2DD@4:2E6 AC@76DD@C @7 =:?8F:DE:4D |2EE96H q2<6C 2?5 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }@CE96C? r@=@C25@ 2DD:DE2?E AC@76DD@C @7 t?8=:D9 y@C52? $>:E9]k^Am kAmw625:?8 :?E@ E96:C C6D62C49[ pF?6 2?5 |24<:6H:4K D2:5 E96J 3@E9 925 E96:C 2DDF>AE:@?D 2D E@ H92E E96J’5 7:?5 — E92E 9F>2?:K:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J H@F=5 36 H:56DAC625] !C:@C C6D62C49 92D D9@H? A6@A=6 2?E9C@A@>@CA9:K6 H96? H@C<:?8 H:E9 C@3@E:4D[ 2?5 pF?6 D2:5 E96J’G6 C625 2CE:4=6D HC:EE6? 23@FE 9@H A6@A=6 FD6 2?5 A6C46:G6 px E92E 92G6 DF886DE65 9F>2?:K2E:@? :D 92AA6?:?8]k^Am kAm%96 C6D62C49 E62> FD65 }6HD @? E96 (63 E@ DEF5J =2?8F286 C6=2E:?8 E@ px[ |24<:6H:4K D2:5[ 2D :E :?4=F56D E96 >@DE C646?E 52E2 288C682E65 7C@> ?6HD 2CE:4=6D @C:8:?2E:?8 7C@> a_ 5:776C6?E 4@F?EC:6D] %96 52E232D6 92D E@AA65 a_ 3:==:@? H@C5D[ 2?5 :E :?4=F56D D@>6 @7 E96 62C=:6DE ?6HD 2CE:4=6D 23@FE px E@ C646?E 2CE:4=6D 4@G6C:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm“(96? H6 DE2CE65 E@ 5@ 2? 2?2=JD:D @7 E96 :?5:G:5F2= A2:C:?8D[ E92E’D H96C6 E96 7:?5:?8D 3642>6 >@DE :?E6C6DE:?8[ 3642FD6 E96 @G6C2== 7:?5:?8 H2D E92E[ @9[ E96J 5@?’E C62==J A2:C 2D 7C6BF6?E=J 2D AC:@C C6D62C49 @C @A:?:@? A:646D H@F=5 92G6 J@F E9:?<[” |24<:6H:4K D2:5]k^AmkAm(@C5D E96 E62> H2D @? E96 =@@<@FE 7@C 7@4FD65 @? “G6C3D E92E C67=64E 4@8?:E:@?[” |24<:6H:4K D2:5[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D “>6?E2= G6C3D” — ?665D[ =62C?D[ >62?D[ 2?5 F?56CDE2?5D 2C6 ;FDE 2 76H 6I2>A=6D] %96J 2=D@ ?2CC@H65 E96 D62C49 E@ C676C6?46D E@ px @C r92Ev!%[ 2D :E H2D @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE px E@@=D E@ 364@>6 AF3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6 2?5 <?@H?]k^Am kAm(92E E96J 7@F?5 :D E92E E96D6 >6?E2= G6C3D 2C6 ?@E @7E6? A2:C65 H:E9 E96 :56?E:7:65 E6C>D[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?F2?46 E@ E96 :?DE2?46D H96C6 E96J H6C6 FD65 E@86E96C]k^AmkAm“px >62?D[ @C px ?665D[ @C r92Ev!% <?@HD — J@F AFE E9@D6 E@86E96C[ ;FDE @? E96 DFC7246[ E96J D66> 2?E9C@A@>@CA9:K:?8[ 3FE E96J’C6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J[” |24<:6H:4K D2:5]k^AmkAmp?E9C@A@>@CA9:K2E:@? “6I:DED @? 2 DA64ECF>[” |24<:6H:4K D2:5[ H96C6 2 H@C5 =:<6 “>62?D” 4@F=5 2AA=J E@ 5:776C6?E D6?D6D 2?5 >62?:?8D 56A6?5:?8 @? 9@H :E :D 36:?8 FD65] ~E96C H@C5D 92G6 5:776C6?E >62?:?8D :? E96:C 4@>>@? FD286 @C FD286 3J 5:776C6?E 5:D4:A=:?6D[ DF49 2D “=62C?D]” |24<:6H:4K D2:5 E96 E6C>D “px” 2?5 7@C>D @7 “=62C?” H6C6 A2:C65 E@86E96C 7C6BF6?E=J :? E96 52E2[ H9:49 E@ D@>6 H@F=5 D66> E@ D2J E92E E96 E649?@=@8J :D =62C?:?8 =:<6 2 9F>2? 4@F=5[ 3FE E@ @E96CD H@F=5 >62? D@>6E9:?8 4@>A=6E6=J 5:776C6?E]k^Am kAmxE’D E9:D ?F2?46 E92E D9@HD H9J DEC:4E 8F:56=:?6D @7 H92E H@C5D 42? 2?5 42??@E 36 FD65 :? C6=2E:@? E@ px 2C6 7=2H65[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 H92E 25G:46 E96 C6D62C496CD H@F=5 @776C :?DE625 :D E92E A6@A=6 ?665 E@ 36 42C67F= 23@FE <?@H:?8 H9@ E96:C 2F5:6?46 :D H96? HC:E:?8 23@FE px 2?5 E9:?<:?8 23@FE 9@H E96:C H@C5D 4@F=5 36 :?E6CAC6E65]k^AmkAm|24<:6H:4K D2:5 E92E :? 2 H2J[ E9:D H@C< D9@H65 E96 G2=F6 @7 9F>2? 36:?8D] xE’D 62DJ 7@C 2 4@>AFE6C E@ 4@F?E 9@H >2?J E:>6D H@C5D 2C6 A2:C65 E@86E96C[ 3FE :E’D 92C56C E@ 2?2=JK6 :E H:E9:? :ED 4@?E6IE 2?5 56E6C>:?6 E96 =2?8F286’D 24EF2= >62?:?8]k^Am kAm(9:=6 :E H@F=5 36 2 3:886C =:7E E92? E9:D DEF5J[ E96 C6D62C496CD D2:5 E96J H@F=5 36 :?E6C6DE65 :? DEF5J:?8 H92E =2?8F286 :D FD65 E@ C676C E@ px :? @E96C 2C62D @7 HC:E:?8[ =:<6 D@4:2= >65:2] %9:D H@F=5 C6BF:C6 E96> E@ 4C62E6 E96:C @H? 52E232D6 2?5 D4C2A6 D@4:2= >65:2 7@C E96 ?646DD2CJ :?7@C>2E:@?[ |24<:6H:4K D2:5[ 3FE :E 4@F=5 J:6=5 :?E6C6DE:?8 C6DF=ED]k^Am kAm(9:=6 ;@FC?2=:DED FE:=:K6 DEJ=6 8F:56D 4C62E65 3J E96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD @C @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D H96? 564:5:?8 9@H E@ HC:E6 @? 46CE2:? E@A:4D 2?5 C646:G6 65:E:?8 @? E96:C HC:E:?8[ |24<:6H:4K D2:5[ D@4:2= >65:2 86?6C2==J 5@6D?’E 7@==@H DF49 CF=6D]k^Am kAm“(6 ?@H 6G6? 925 D@>6 DEF56?ED C676C E@ r92Ev!% H:E9 2 >2=6 AC@?@F?[ ?@E E2=< 23@FE :E 2D ‘:E[’” pF?6 D2:5] “$@ x A6CD@?2==J C62==J 25G@42E6 36:?8 :?E6?E:@?2= H:E9 E96 =2?8F286[ D@ E2=<:?8 23@FE @FEAFE E6IE 2?5 :E FAE2<6D E96 AC@>AE[ J@F 4@F=5 C62==J <:?5 @7 6>A92D:K6 E92E :E :D 2 E@@= E92E’D C62==J 96=A7F=[ 3FE :E’D ?@E C6A=24:?8 @FC 3C2:?D]”k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular H-1B visa holders protest Iowa bill to ban them from universities The group of about 150 marched in a circle with signs that read "International scholars build Iowa too," "Education not discrimination," and "… Community colleges tout success of state-sponsored business partnerships Representatives from Iowa’s community colleges and their business partners gathered in the Iowa Capitol Tuesday to showcase their unique progr… Iowa House passes bills to change universities’ core curriculum, tuition options Iowa House lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to alter university presidential searches, tuition options and general education requirements. Regents study shows Iowa public universities add $18B to state economy With lawmakers deciding how much state funding to appropriate Iowa’s public universities next year, the Iowa Board of Regents has published a … Iowa universities seek $58 million from state for campus construction Iowa’s public universities are asking lawmakers to allocate $57.9 million over the next three years — including $16 million next year — for th… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts Watch Now: Related Video The Supreme Court to hear arguments this week over Trump’s birthright citizenship order ‘They have to survive’: Trump allows Russian oil into Cuba despite sanctions ‘They have to survive’: Trump allows Russian oil into Cuba despite sanctions What Kid Rock's Exes Have Said About Him What Kid Rock's Exes Have Said About Him Apollo to Artemis: A look at the legacy of NASA’s moon missions and what’s next AP Apollo to Artemis: A look at the legacy of NASA’s moon missions and what’s next
H-1B visa holders protest Iowa bill to ban them from universities The group of about 150 marched in a circle with signs that read "International scholars build Iowa too," "Education not discrimination," and "…
Community colleges tout success of state-sponsored business partnerships Representatives from Iowa’s community colleges and their business partners gathered in the Iowa Capitol Tuesday to showcase their unique progr…
Iowa House passes bills to change universities’ core curriculum, tuition options Iowa House lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to alter university presidential searches, tuition options and general education requirements.
Regents study shows Iowa public universities add $18B to state economy With lawmakers deciding how much state funding to appropriate Iowa’s public universities next year, the Iowa Board of Regents has published a …
Iowa universities seek $58 million from state for campus construction Iowa’s public universities are asking lawmakers to allocate $57.9 million over the next three years — including $16 million next year — for th…
