FACT-GPT: Fact-Checking Augmentation via Claim Matching with LLMs (2402.05904v1)

Abstract: Our society is facing rampant misinformation harming public health and trust. To address the societal challenge, we introduce FACT-GPT, a system leveraging LLMs to automate the claim matching stage of fact-checking. FACT-GPT, trained on a synthetic dataset, identifies social media content that aligns with, contradicts, or is irrelevant to previously debunked claims. Our evaluation shows that our specialized LLMs can match the accuracy of larger models in identifying related claims, closely mirroring human judgment. This research provides an automated solution for efficient claim matching, demonstrates the potential of LLMs in supporting fact-checkers, and offers valuable resources for further research in the field.

• The paper demonstrates that fine-tuning LLMs on synthetic datasets significantly improves claim matching accuracy akin to human judgment.
• The methodology employs a textual entailment framework to classify claims into entailment, neutral, and contradiction categories.
• The study underscores the potential of LLM-based automation to enhance fact-checking efficiency and support misinformation detection on social media.

FACT-GPT: Enhancing Fact-Checking through Claim Matching with LLMs

Introducing FACT-GPT

In the ongoing battle against misinformation, particularly within the field of public health, the research paper introduces FACT-GPT, a system designed to automate the claim matching stage in the fact-checking process. Utilizing LLMs, FACT-GPT aims to identify social media content that may align with, contradict, or be irrelevant to previously debunked claims. Notably, the system demonstrates a capacity to match the accuracy of larger models in identifying related claims, an achievement that closely mirrors human judgment capabilities.

Evaluating LLMs in Fact-Checking

The necessity of streamlining the fact-checking process is underscored by the challenges posed by the rapid dissemination of misinformation on digital platforms. FACT-GPT represents a pivotal step toward harnessing the potential of LLMs in this regard. Through the creation and utilization of a synthetic dataset, FACT-GPT provides a nuanced approach to claim matching, offering insights into the capabilities of specialized LLMs in the context of fact-checking.

Methodological Framework

The paper delineates a structured approach to evaluating LLM performance in claim matching via a textual entailment task, classifying relationships between statements into categories of entailment, neutral, and contradiction. The creation of a synthetic dataset, with data generated from models such as GPT-4, GPT-3.5-Turbo, and Llama-2-70b, facilitates training and fine-tuning processes that aim to enhance model adaptability and classification accuracy.

Key Findings and Performance

• Synthetic Training Advantages: The fine-tuning of models on synthetic datasets led to a notable improvement in performance, underscoring the importance of quality training data.
• Model Performance: The evaluation highlights a distinct capability among the fine-tuned models, particularly in classifying entailment and neutral categories. However, challenges remain in accurately categorizing contradictions, suggesting an area for future emphasis.
• Comparative Analysis: The research systematically compares the effectiveness of pre-trained and fine-tuned models, providing valuable insights into the nuances of model performance in the context of claim matching.

Implications and Future Directions

The paper's findings illustrate the significant promise of LLMs in enhancing the efficiency of the fact-checking process, while also acknowledging the limitations and ethical considerations inherent in automating such tasks. The nuanced capacity of FACT-GPT to distinguish between different types of claim relationships offers a powerful tool for fact-checkers, with practical implications for content moderation and misinformation analysis.

Looking ahead, the paper advocates for continuous collaboration among researchers, developers, and practitioners to refine these AI tools. The exploration of data synthesis methods and the assessment of model performance across diverse datasets are suggested as fruitful areas for further research. Moreover, the incorporation of natural language explanation capabilities within LLMs could offer enhanced transparency and interpretability, aligning with broader efforts to responsibly deploy AI technologies in the fight against misinformation.

Concluding Thoughts

The research presented in FACT-GPT contributes to a deeper understanding of the potential roles of LLMs in supporting the critical task of fact-checking. By bridging technological innovation with the nuanced requirements of claim matching, the paper lays a foundation for future advancements that could significantly impact the efforts to curb the spread of misinformation on a global scale.