Trust in media is collapsing! Gallup measured U.S. trust in media as 28% in 2025, a record low in its trend. At the same time, polarization is deepening, and Americans increasingly encounter news through algorithmically curated feeds that reward outrage and speed over context.
Verity exists to prove a different use of AI: not “engagement optimization,” but transparent synthesis helping readers see what happened, what sources agree on, and where interpretation diverges. Managed by the Improve the News Foundation (ITN), an apolitical U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in October 2020 by Max Tegmark and Meia Chita-Tegmark, Verity is free and ad-free, supported by donors including primarily the Future of Life Institute.
From launch, the goal was to build a daily news product that is measurably more balanced than typical digital news experiences—without automating away editorial responsibility.
Each day, Verity’s machine learning systems analyze coverage from more than 5,000 global news sources, clustering related reporting, extracting cross-source factual consensus, and identifying competing narratives across the ideological spectrum. Human editors then verify and refine the reporting to ensure accuracy and neutrality.
This hybrid AI–human workflow allows Verity to transform the traditional news feed into a system designed for context, transparency, and understanding, helping readers navigate complex global events in a polarized information environment.
From its launch in 2023, Verity set out to achieve three measurable goals by the end of 2025:
Develop a viewership of over 10 million readers across digital social platforms
Grow the platform’s website visit to more than 500,000 readers
Exceed the global industry benchmark for time spent on news websites, which averages approximately 1 minute and 45 seconds per visit.
Through this approach, Verity aims to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly to strengthen journalism, accelerate global news analysis, and rebuild trust in the information ecosystem. The goal is to build a digital publication widely recognized as a trusted source of accurate and impartial news and have a growing community that actively contributes feedback.
Building Verity
Before launching Verity, the Improve the News Foundation developed an early prototype platform, Improve the News, designed to automatically aggregate and classify news articles according to political bias.
While users appreciated the technology and intent, feedback consistently highlighted a need for deeper context, clearer separation between facts and interpretation, and a more intuitive way to understand how narratives differ across the global media landscape.
In response, the foundation built Verity, a redesigned platform created specifically to introduce stories with greater clarity and transparency. Its purpose is to transform the traditional news article into a structured explanation of facts, narratives, and media framing.
The name Verity—derived from the Latin "veritas," meaning “truth”—was intentionally designed with the “V” symbolizing verification, reflecting the platform’s emphasis on evidence-based journalism. In 2023, the platform migrated from improvethenews.org to verity.news and was rebuilt around a central principle:
AI accelerates analysis. Humans retain editorial control.
Verity was designed to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can strengthen journalism rather than distort it. By combining machine learning with editorial expertise, the platform analyzes global news coverage at scale and presents events with greater speed, transparency, and context.
AI-Powered, Human-Verified Journalism
Verity offers four core editorial formats designed to help readers understand complex news events:
Verity’s machine-learning systems analyze reporting from more than 5,000 traditional and alternative news sources daily. The system automatically clusters related coverage and can also search the broader web by topic to identify additional reporting.
From these clusters, AI generates structured drafts and organizes relevant source material. Human editors then review, verify, and refine every article—checking facts, ensuring neutral language, and representing the strongest arguments from multiple perspectives before publication.
Sources are then classified along two ideological axes:
• Left vs. Right
• Pro-Establishment vs. Establishment-Critical
This classification is based on machine-learning research published by Max Tegmark and Samantha D’Alonzo (2021).
Mapping sources across this two-dimensional bias landscape allows Verity to identify both
• shared factual consensus across outlets
• competing narratives shaping public interpretation
This hybrid workflow enables a small editorial team to synthesize complex global events at a speed that traditionally required much larger newsrooms.
Defining Facts and Narratives
To avoid false balance and improve transparency, Verity uses explicit editorial standards.
Fact Standard
Whenever possible, Verity prioritizes primary sources, including official documents, court filings, and direct reporting.
When primary sources are unavailable or disputed, Verity treats as factual information that sources on opposing sides of a controversy agree upon.
Narratives
Verity identifies the dominant interpretations shaping coverage of an event and presents them side-by-side in their strongest form.
The objective is not to frame debate as conflict but to help readers understand why different communities interpret the same facts differently.
Bias Transparency
Verity’s Bias Split tool allows readers to compare how outlets across the political spectrum frame the same story.
The methodology publicly discloses that prompts are run using ChatGPT (v4.1) and that outputs undergo human quality review and comparison against ground-truth bias databases such as AllSides.
Responsible AI Safeguards
Verity’s AI systems were designed with governance safeguards to prevent algorithmic bias or automated misinformation.
These safeguards include:
• bias-avoidance constraints in AI-generated drafts
• mandatory multi-source verification before facts are included
• narrative diversity requirements to represent multiple perspectives
• human editorial review before publication
• AI systems that never publish autonomously
AI is therefore used to enhance transparency and scale analysis, while humans remain responsible for editorial decisions.
Product Design & User Experience
Verity’s website and app were designed to make the structure of the information ecosystem visible to readers.
Key features include the following:
Fact vs. Narrative Structure
Articles clearly separate verified facts from competing interpretations, helping readers distinguish evidence from analysis.
Bias Split Tool
Readers can compare how outlets across the political spectrum cover the same event and explore the narratives shaping public discourse.
Together, these features transform news consumption from passive scrolling into an interactive exploration of the global media landscape.
Structural Alignment With Trust
Unlike most digital media platforms, Verity is free and ad-free. The platform does not expose users to third-party advertising and is supported through philanthropic funding, including support from the Future of Life Institute.
Audience Growth and Impact
Verity exceeded its original growth objectives and rapidly expanded its global readership. From its launch in mid-2023 through the end of 2025, the platform reached 1.5 million cumulative active website visitors and generated 2.6 million pageviews.
Website traffic increased 647% between 2023 and 2025, growing from 93,200 visitors in 2023 to 696,200 visitors in 2025. This significantly surpassed Verity’s original objective of reaching 500,000 users by the end of 2025 by reaching 1.5M website visitors.
Reader Engagement
Reader engagement has remained exceptionally strong. Visitors spend an average of 10 minutes and 23 seconds on the platform—far exceeding industry benchmarks. According to Comscore data analyzing 105 major news outlets with over 10 million monthly visitors, the average visit time across major news sites is approximately 1 minute and 45 seconds.
This sustained interaction reflects how readers actively explore Verity’s structured presentation of verified facts alongside competing narratives rather than simply scanning headlines.
Platform Scale
Together, these components form a growing architecture designed to map how narratives emerge, evolve, and spread across the global information ecosystem.
Behind Verity, there is a rapid engagement and reach expanding. As of early 2026, Verity’s platform includes:
AI Impact on Information Transparency
Verity’s AI-driven architecture enables readers to understand not only what happened, but how the same event is framed across the media landscape.
By clustering reporting from thousands of sources and separating verified facts from narrative interpretations, the platform helps readers identify bias, evaluate competing viewpoints, and develop stronger media literacy. This approach transforms the news experience from passive consumption into a more analytical exploration of the information ecosystem.
Platform Reach
In 2025 alone, Verity content generated 31M views across social platforms, including the following:
Verity Audience by Country
United States █████████████████████████████████████████████████████ 904.9K
United Kingdom ███████ 126.1K
China █████ 81.3K
Canada ████ 69.7K
Hong Kong ███ 45.2K
By March 2026, Verity’s social audience included 588,686 Facebook followers and 87,656 followers on X.
Community Impact
Verity has also built a growing community around responsible information systems. The platform maintains a Slack community of more than 150 active contributors, including journalists, volunteers, and media literacy participants who provide feedback and help improve the platform.
This participatory model ensures that Verity continues to evolve in response to user needs while fostering a community focused on transparency and critical thinking in news consumption. The overall sentiment analysis of the Verity user is positive.
Reader Feedback & Educational Impact
Reader feedback highlights the growing trust and educational value of Verity’s approach:
Vernessa Beharry, South Carolina, USA, Master’s in Public Administration, Post University | Verity Media Lab Volunteer:
I improved my media literacy, becoming more adept at evaluating sources quickly, identifying misinformation patterns, and anticipating how certain predictions might be misinterpreted. I also developed stronger audience analysis skills.
Evelyn Rodriguez, New York City, USA, BA in Media, Culture and Communication, New York University | Verity Media Lab Volunteer
Verity helped me as a tool that guided me toward clearer communication and more intentional storytelling.
Msimisi Dlamini, B.A. Johannesburg, South Africa , in Political Science, University of Pretoria | Verity Media Lab Volunteer
My political awareness and conceptual understanding of media narratives improved significantly. I learned how news can be framed from different perspectives—left, right, or pro-establishment—and how recognizing these dynamics is essential for interpreting information critically.
Daisy Alatorre-Cervantes, California, USA B.A. in Legal Studies and Human Rights Minor, University of California, Berkeley | Verity Media Lab Volunteer
My time with Verity has been very unique, as I began my journey during the fall 2025 semester in Rome, Italy, through UC Berkeley. Through Verity, I have learned how to educate diverse communities and target their personal interests in order to educate them on global news.
Emma Soulanticas, Boston, USA Community Analyst, Improve the News Foundation | VerityEd
What makes Verity meaningful is that it addresses two urgent challenges at once: how to make the news easier to understand for diverse audiences and how to use AI in a way that builds trust rather than erodes it, ultimately fostering informed communities. Verity helps readers distinguish facts from framing, compare perspectives, and go deeper into a story, by pairing AI-assisted workflows with rigorous human review. That combination makes the platform feel both innovative and responsible.
Misha, Sydney, Australia Product Manager at ITN, Improve the News Foundation | BAIF, Beneficial AI Foundation
Knowing what's really happening in the world has never been more important. Today's news cycle runs hot, and too many sources are shaped by hidden or obvious agendas. At Verity, we use science to stay unbiased. Unlike other news outlets, we're not backed by billionaire owners and don't rely on ads or subscriptions. In the age of AI, our human editorial team goes deep on the stories that matter, helping you better understand the world and make the best decisions.
Ana Silva, Barcelona, Spain Marketing Lead, Improve the News Foundation | Verity Media Lab
What I love about Verity is that it transforms news consumption from passive scrolling into an active exploration of how information spreads. Through the platform’s bias split, controversies, and transparent presentation of facts, readers can clearly see how narratives evolve across the global media ecosystem. It’s a powerful way to stay informed—and the fact that readers spend an average of over 10 minutes on the platform shows how deeply people engage with this more transparent approach to news.
Helia Mokhber, Toronto, Canada, Deputy Manager, Operations, Improve the News Foundation
In today’s fast-moving news cycle, it can be difficult to cut through the noise, stay informed on what matters, and know which sources to trust. At Verity, we help readers do exactly that by aggregating sources from across the political spectrum and offering a seamless way to separate facts from narratives. By combining science, AI, and the expertise of skilled editors, we provide a more balanced, less polarized, and more transparent account of the news.
Jeremey Garner, USA Data Curator, Improve the News Foundation
Verity has been my go-to for cutting through the noise in the world—it gives you the facts, surfaces what all sides are saying, and helps you quickly distinguish truth from misinformation. The interface is clean and intuitive, and what I appreciate most is how it presents information in a way that's genuinely unbiased and neutral. It doesn't tell you what to think; it gives you the clarity to decide for yourself.
Ruaridh Currie, Edinburgh, Scotland, Design Lead, Improve the News Foundation
Unlike conventional aggregators, Verity is purpose-built to cut through bias and reveal the objective truth. Over five years of relentless iteration, driven by deep user insights and analysis, we’ve designed a powerful set of proprietary features that systematically distinguish verifiable facts from editorial narratives and opinion. As a completely free-to-use platform, we’re unburdened by advertisements, paywalls, subscriptions, or corporate agendas. This freedom allows our team to focus exclusively on continuous innovation and refinement in pursuit of truth, not profit.
Scott Wallace, Philadelphia, USA, Managing Editor, Multimedia, Improve the News Foundation
I suppose the ultimate aim is for Verity not to be needed. But until that day, it remains the best, most accessible way I've seen to hear not just the facts of a story, but also what people on all sides are saying as well.
Naing Min, New York, USA, Automation Engineer, Improve the News Foundation
As an automation engineer working behind the scenes at Verity, I have a unique vantage point to witness firsthand the engineering and effort that goes into building an internet news platform designed to genuinely benefit humanity. What I appreciate most is the commitment to presenting multiple perspectives on each story, offering a level of transparency that is truly refreshing. From a technical standpoint, knowing that the platform is built without paywalls, without advertisements, and with the principle that we don’t sell your personal data gives me confidence in the integrity of what we are building.
Anna-Lisa Hennig, Hésingue, France, Senior Managing Editor, Improve the News Foundation
There's no shortage of news apps out there, but finding one you can truly trust is more challenging. Our editorial team works hard to earn that trust through a genuine commitment to accuracy, transparency, and exploring different perspectives. Our goal isn't to tell you what to think — we'd rather give you the tools to figure that out yourself.
These testimonials reflect how Verity’s AI-assisted journalism model not only informs readers but also strengthens media literacy and critical thinking.
Independent Validation & Trust
Verity’s editorial model has also received independent validation for balanced reporting.
In August 2025, the media-bias auditing organization AllSides evaluated Verity and assigned it a –0.02 bias rating, the most balanced score ever recorded across more than 2,400 news outlets worldwide.
The rating was determined through blind testing with 859 participants, combined with expert editorial review, reinforcing Verity’s position as a trusted source of balanced journalism.
