FOR THIS EPISODE OF KPL BEST NEWS THIS WEEK WERE LOOKING BACK ON SOME OF THE BEST REPORTING ON DEMOCRACY IN 2023.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

KPBS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SPENT MUCH OF 2023 EXAMINING THE PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY.

IN SEPTEMBER, SHE WAS PART OF A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC MEDIA COLLABORATION FOR DEMOCRACY DAY , THREATS TO OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNING AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WE ARE SEEING IN SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: 33 MONTHS AFTER THE JANUARY 6th ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL, NEARLY 70% OF REPUBLICANS NATIONWIDE STILL BELIEVE THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 29 STATES HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION MAKING IT TOUGHER TO VOTE.

CENSORSHIP IS ON THE RISE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS FROM BOTH PARTIES BELIEVE POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS JUSTIFIED.

HOW MUCH OF THIS SENTIMENT HAS SEEPED INTO THE SAN DIEGO REGION POST JANUARY 6th?

MESA COLLEGE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR CARLA LUNA SAYS SOMEWHAT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE.

>> POLITICS AND SOCIAL -- IS LOCAL, BUT IT IS ALSO NATIONAL.

>> Reporter: WE SET OUT TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF DEMOCRACY IN SAN DIEGO THROUGH A HANDFUL OF KEY INDICATORS, THREATS TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, VOTING, CENSORSHIP, AND LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE.

A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO POLL FOUND 66% OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORTED THREATS HAVE INCREASED SINCE TAKING OFFICE.

THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE SAYS SEXUALLY VIOLENT THREATS SPIKED AGAINST HER WHEN PUSHING FOR INCLUSIVITY.

>> THE ONES THAT ARE MORE OMINOUS AND THREATENING, 100% FROM THEM, USUALLY CONSERVATIVE MEN THAT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS SUCH.

>> Reporter: OVERALL, ACCESS TO VOTING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS STRONG.

CALIFORNIA LARGELY PREVENTS GERRYMANDERING BY HAVING AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION DETERMINED THE POLITICAL DISTRICTS.

THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE THE HARSH VOTER ID LAWS -- AND LIMITS ON POLLING PLACES THAT RESTRICT VOTING IN SOME OTHER STATES.

THE CENSORSHIP SITUATION IS A BIT MORE CLOUDY.

THERE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED ATTEMPTS TO BAN BOOKS ON LGBTQ TOPICS AT OCEANSIDE SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

MISTY JONES, DIRECTOR OF THE CITY LIBRARY SYSTEM, SAYS SHE IS UP FOR THE FIGHT.

>> I FEEL LIKE LIBRARIES ARE KIND OF THE LAST STAND FOR DEMOCRACY.

THEY ARE THE LOCATION THAT ANYONE CAN COME REGARDLESS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR BELIEFS, WHATEVER.

EVERYONE CAN FIND SOMETHING AT THE LIBRARY.

THAT IS WHAT WE STAND FOR.

WE STAND FOR FREEDOM OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, ANOTHER KEY MEASURE OF INFORMATION ACCESS, SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS FALTERING.

ITS MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPER, THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE HAS GONE FROM EMPLOYING 400 PEOPLE IN THE NEWSROOM IN THE 1990S TO JUST OVER 100 TODAY.

LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS STATIONS HAVE ALSO FACED SIGNIFICANT CUTS IN RECENT DECADES.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM PROFESSOR PENNY ABERNATHY SAYS THOSE JOURNALISTS COVERED MAJOR BEATS LIKE EDUCATION, CITY HALL, AND ROGUE INVESTIGATIVE PIECES, ALL HALLMARKS OF LOCAL NEWS.

IS THE GLUE THAT BINDS COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND BINDS OUR SOCIETY TOGETHER.

BY THE SAME TIME, IT SERVES THIS COUNTRY AND THIS DEMOCRACY BY GIVING US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO TO VOTE FOR, EVEN WHERE WE SHOULD SHOP TO GET THE BEST BARGAINS.

WHEN WE HAVE LOST BACK, THERE IS A GREAT VOID INTO WHICH YOU CAN GET MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION TO FLOURISH.

>> Reporter: AND IT HAS THROUGH HIGHLY PARTISAN NEWS OUTLETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

THIS FRAGMENTED NEWS WORLD IS A FAR CRY FROM THE ERA WHEN AMERICANS LEARNED A UNIFORM SET OF FACTS FROM KEY MEDIA GATEKEEPERS LIKE MAJOR NEWSPAPERS AND THE BIG THREE TELEVISION NETWORKS.

UCSD POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR BARBARA WALTERS SAYS THE ECOSYSTEM ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH IDEAS AND ATTITUDES THAT WERE HISTORICALLY ON THE FRENCH TO ENTER THE MAINSTREAM.

>> THEY CAN FIND EACH OTHER REALLY EASILY.

THEY CAN CHAT WITH EACH OTHER REALLY EASILY.

THEY CAN BE FED INFORMATION FROM PUTIN OR FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PROUD BOYS OR FROM ANY NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE GOAL IS TO ACTUALLY RADICALIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS EVEN FURTHER.

ALL OF THAT IS REALLY EASY.

THERE IS NO REGULATION.

AND OF COURSE, THE ALGORITHMS JUST ACCELERATE THAT..

BUT ON THIS DEMOCRACY DAY, LOCAL POLITICAL SCIENTIST LUNA SEES SILVER LININGS.

AMERICANS STILL PREFER DEMOCRACY.

>> AND HAS NOT GOTTEN VIOLENT YET.

>> 2024 WILL BE THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITH CALIFORNIA HOLDING AN EARLIER PRIMARY ON MARCH 5.

ONE WAY TO STAY INFORMED IS WITH THE KPBS VOTER HELP IS COVERAGE RAMPS UP IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND OUR STORIES, ALONG WITH INFORMATION ON VOTING LOCATIONS, IMPORTANT DATES ON CANDIDATES.

LOOK FOR THE LINK ON OUR HOMEPAGE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> THIS YEAR BROUGHT SUDDEN CHANGE TO THE LARGEST NEWSPAPER IN SAN DIEGO.

THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE IS NOW OWNED BY A COMPANY THAT OWNS MORE THAN 200 NEWSPAPERS NATIONWIDE.

READERS CAN LOOK TO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT WILL COME NEXT.

♪ ♪ SOME THINGS HAPPENING HERE WHAT IT IS AIN'T EXACTLY CLEAR ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: ON A RECENT FALL AFTERNOON, RIVERSIDE REVEREND -- RESIDENT ROBBIE SAYS HE IS A LOCAL VOTER, BUT HE NEVER READS THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER BEFORE VOTING.

IN FACT, HE NEVER DOES RESEARCH AT ALL.

>> I ALWAYS SEE THE SAME NAMES MOST OF THE TIME.

I DO SEE A NEW NAME, I WILL VOTE FOR THE NEW NAME, BECAUSE WHY NOT?

>> Reporter: THE PRESS ENTERPRISE USED TO MATTER A LOT MORE TO RESIDENTS.

HE RECALLS A TIME MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WHEN PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, READ THE LOCAL PAPER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

>> I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF ANYBODY IS CITY HALL LOOKS AT THE PRESS NOW.

>> Reporter: TODAY THE NEWSROOM THAT ONCE EMPLOYED MORE THAN 100 JOURNALISTS COVERING ALL OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY IS NOW DOWN TO A HANDFUL OF REPORTERS.

IN 2016, THE NEW YORK-BASED HEDGE FUNDS, ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL, BOUGHT THE PRESS ENTERPRISE.

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CUTS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

>> THE INFORMATION FUNCTION IS NOT THERE.

WE ARE AN EXPLICIT EXAMPLE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LOCAL NEWS.

>> Reporter: THIS JULY ALDEN ACQUIRED THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE.

THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS THE UNION TRIBUNE IS LIKELY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PRESS ENTERPRISE AND OTHER NEWSPAPERS.

BUYOUTS, LAYOFFS, BARE-BONES LOCAL COVERAGE.

HOURS AFTER ALDEN ANNOUNCED IT BOUGHT THE UNION TRIBUNE, THE COMPANY OFFERED BUYOUTS.

JOURNALISTS LEFT DECADES OF MEMORY OF COVERING CORRUPTION AND POLITICS.

THIS LEAVES COMMUNITIES DIVORCED FROM THE GIVE-AND-TAKE OF FORMULATING POLICY AND FROM DEMOCRACY ITSELF.

>> AMERICAN POLITICS, ACCESS IS LOCAL.

IT IS NOT AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL, IT IS LOCAL.

THE ABSENCE OF INFORMATION MAKES THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL CONVERSATION LOCALLY ALMOST NONEXISTENT.

>> Reporter: THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER IS ANOTHER CAUTIONARY TALE.

20 YEARS AGO, THE PAPER HAD HUNDREDS OF JOURNALISTS COVERING OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH.

FRANK WORKED AS A REPORTER, EDITOR AND COLUMNIST FOR THE REGISTER PEAK HE SAYS THE MISSION WAS TO SATURATE THE COUNTY WITH NEWS COVERAGE.

>> WE HAD AN INVESTIGATIVE TEAM.

WE JUST POURED A LOT OF MONEY INTO EVERY CORNER OF JOURNALISM THAT EXISTED AND THAT WE TRIED.

IT WAS EXCITING TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> Reporter: ALDEN BOUGHT THE REGISTER AND 2016.

NOW SOURCES AT THE PAPER SAY ONE REPORTER HAS TO COVER AS MANY AS FIVE BIG CITIES.

CONSIDER A RECENT SCANDAL AT ANAHEIM CITY HALL.

DETAILS DID NOT COME TO LIGHT UNTIL THE CITY RELEASED ITS OWN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.

>> WAS KIND OF SCARY.

WE FOUND OUT ABOUT ANAHEIM, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE?

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE MAY NEVER KNOW.

>> Reporter: LIFELONG ANAHEIM RESIDENT CYNTHIA WARD SAYS NOW THE PUBLIC MUST GRAPPLE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

>> WHEN CORRUPTION GOES UNCHECKED, IT MEANS THAT MONEY THAT SHOULD BE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES IS GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF SPECIAL INTERESTS, WHICH MEANS OUR TAXES HAVE TO GO UP TO FILL POTHOLES AND DO THE THINGS WE COUNT ON BECAUSE THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SIPHONED.

ULTIMATELY, -- >> Reporter: THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THE VERY REPUBLIC IS IN TROUBLE IF LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE CONTINUES ITS DOWNWARD SLIDE, BUT HE DOES NOT BEGRUDGE ALDEN OR OTHER PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS FOR HOLLOWING OUT NEWSROOMS.

>> THEY DO WHAT THEY DO, IT IS BLAMING A SHARK FOR DOING WHAT A SHARK DOES.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS WE ARE ALL TO BLAME FOR LETTING IT HAPPEN.

>> IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL MODEL THE FIRM USES IN HOLLOWING OUT NEWSROOMS.

YOU CAN FIND THAT STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA, TWITTER USED TO BE A POWERHOUSE, BUT THIS YEAR I GOT A NEW NAME AND SAW MANY OF ITS USERS LEAVE, INCLUDING KPBS.

PAST USERS AND MEDIA WATCHDOGS A NEW INNER SHOPE HAS ALLOWED HARASSMENT AND MISINFORMATION TO GO UNCHECKED.

THOMAS BUSCH TALKED WITH LOCAL SCIENTISTS ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY ARE SEEING.

>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AT TWITTER.

IN FACT, YOU ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO CALL IT THAT.

IT IS BEEN RENAMED AND REBRANDED AS X, THE NAME FAVORED BY ELON MUSK, THE FOUNDER OF TESLA AND THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

DESPITE THE CHANGES, IT IS STILL WIDELY USED AND VALUED BY SCIENTISTS, BUT THEY ARE SEEING A LOT LESS OF WHAT THEY USED TO LIKE.

>> WHAT I LIKE IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST ACADEMIC VIGOROUS DISCUSSIONS, LINKS TO NEW THINGS, EDUCATION.

I AM SEEING LESS OF THAT.

>> Reporter: HERE IN GOODMAN IS A RESEARCHER AT UC SAN DIEGO WHO SAYS HE IS SEEING A LOT MORE OF WHAT HE CALLS BES ON HIS PLATFORM FEED.

POLARIZING CONTENT AND STUFF IT LOOKS LIKE IT CAME FROM BOTS.

>> I DON'T HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON ELON MUSK.

MY OPINION IS WORSE SINCE HE TOOK OVER.

MY USER EXPERIENCE IS WORTH.

>> Reporter: HE IS NOT ALONE.

A POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW AND IMMUNOLOGISTS AT U.S. SAYS THE PLATFORM USED TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND DEMOCRATIC, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AFTER MUSK BEGAN LETTING PEOPLE PAY TO PROMOTE THEIR CONTENT AND TO RECEIVE THE BLUE CHECK, FORMERLY A GUARANTEE THAT A CONTENT SOURCE WAS LEGITIMATE.

>> SO WHEN YOU CHANGE THAT UNDERLYING RULE OF THE SYSTEM, EVERYTHING GETS SHIFTED TO A POINT WHERE NOW YOU ARE NOT SEEING THINGS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, YOU'RE SEEING THINGS PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR.

>> Reporter: IN ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL MOVE, MUSK ALLOW DONALD TRUMP BACK ON THE PLATFORM, WHO HAD BEEN BANNED AFTER THE JANUARY 6th CAPITOL INSURRECTION.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AND KPBS STOPPED POSTING ON TWITTER AFTER MUSK CALLED NPR STATE AFFILIATED MEDIA.

X DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

>> WHEN HE TOOK OVER -- >> Reporter: A JOURNALISM PROFESSOR AT SAN DIEGO STATE SAYS THE POLITICAL VIEWS OF ELON MUSK TEND TOWARDS CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND HIS CONTENT PREFERENCES WERE CLEAR WHEN HE BEGAN LAYING OFF STAFF.

>> HE FIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE CONTENT MODERATION ISSUES OF TRYING TO TAKE DOWN THIS INFORMATION AND SHUT DOWN TROLLS AND BOTTOM ACCOUNTS.

ALL OF THAT OUT THE WINDOW.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IN ITS GLORY DAYS, TWITTER WAS INFORMED SCIENTISTS COULD USE TO GET OUT FROM BEHIND THE WALL INSTEAD OF THEIR PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS.

THEY STILL DO THAT, BUT FAITH IN THE PLATFORM HAS DIMINISHED.

THE BEST EVIDENCE CAME IN AN ARTICLE THE JOURNAL NATURE THIS AUGUST.

THEY ARE SURVEY SHOWED ABOUT 70% LEFT THE SITE ALTOGETHER AND NEARLY HALF OF THOSE RECENTLY JOINED COMPETITORS LIKE BLUE SKY AND THREADS.

A SAN DIEGO BIOLOGIST AT UC SAN DIEGO SAYS HE DOESN'T DISCOUNT THE CRITICISMS OF THE PLATFORM, AND HE AGREES WITH SOME, BUT HE HAVE A CAVIAR.

>> SOMEHOW PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THESE OTHER SITES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER BECAUSE MAYBE THEY ARE NOT RUN BY ELON OR BY MARK ZUCKERBERG.

I AM VERY SKEPTICAL.

I AM VERY SKEPTICAL THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT THAT THESE PLACES CAN SUCK SOMETIMES.

>> Reporter: THIS BIOLOGIST IS DISMAYED BY THE NEW MANAGEMENT AND THEIR APPARENT TWEAKS TO THE ALGORITHMS, BUT HE IS STILL USING IT.

>> I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING AS GOOD AS TWITTER YET.

>> SOMEONE COULD CLEARLY SEE MY OPINION.

THERE IS ENGAGEMENT.

>> Reporter: AARON GOODMAN SHOWS ME HIS LETTER EXPIATE WITH COMMENTS.

VIRTUALLY ALL THE SCIENTISTS I SPOKE TO ARE STILL USING X, THOUGH THEY AGREE IT IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE.

IF THE COST TO SCIENTISTS IS A DEGRADED SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, THE COST TO ELON MUSK WAS ALSO CONSIDERABLE.

HE BOUGHT TWITTER IN 2022 FOR $44 BILLION.

HE ADMITTED IN A POST LAST MONTH THAT IT IS NOW WORTH CONSIDERABLY LESS.

>>> SOFTWARE LIKE CHATGPT OPENED HER EYES THIS YEAR TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

COMPLEX ALGORITHMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT THE UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLE.

WE LOOK AT HOW SOME SAN DIEGANS ARE USING THE TECHNOLOGY AND WEIGHING ITS ETHICS.

>> Reporter: PICTURE AN ONLINE TECHNOLOGY THAT, WITH A LITTLE HUMAN PROMPTING, CAN WRITE, GREAT IMAGES AND AUDIO, AND EVEN MAKE VIDEOS ALMOST AS GOOD AS WE CAN.

THAT IS NOW A REALITY.

THEIR CALL GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO PROFESSOR EXPLAINS HOW ONE OF THEM WORKS.

>> YOU SAY, HIGH CHAPPY TEA D, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

AND CHATGPT PRODUCES A PROBABILITY FOR MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSES AND PICKS BASICALLY THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY RESPONSE, AND THAT IS WHAT IT SPITS OUT.

>> HELLO, AS AN A.I.

LANGUAGE MODEL, I DON'T HAVE EMOTIONS LIKE HUMANS DO, BUT I'M FUNCTIONING WELL AND READY TO ASSIST YOU.

>> Reporter: CHATGPT IS THE MOST FAMOUS VERSION OF GENERATIVE A.I.

IT HAS ONLY BEEN OUT SINCE NOVEMBER BUT ALREADY HAS MORE THAN 100 MILLION USERS, INCLUDING MANY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> I WAS A STUDENTS WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING IT, AT LEAST MAYBE FOR ONE ASSIGNMENT A WEEK, PROBABLY 1/3 TO 1/2.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A SENIOR AT UC SAN DIEGO.

HE SAYS MANY STUDENTS WON'T ADMITTED TO USING THE A.I.

TOOLS BECAUSE I FEEL GUILTY OR UNSURE IF THEY WILL GET IN TROUBLE.

IN FACT, UC SAN DIEGO SENT OUT A LETTER TO STUDENTS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS.

>> BASICALLY, THEY SAID IF THE PROFESSOR IS NOT ALLOWING IT, IT IS CONSIDERED CHEATING.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS SOME PROFESSORS HAVE KEPT IT BANNED WHILE OTHERS HAVE GIVEN IT A PARTIAL OR FULL GREENLIGHT.

WHILE THE TEXTBASED SYSTEMS CAN SOUND CONVINCINGLY HUMAN, THEY'RE NOT PERFECT.

>> IT IS NOT NECESSARILY HELPFUL TO BE AFRAID OF A.I.

>> THE MODEL CAN GIVE FALSE ANSWERS, IT CAN GIVE ANSWERS THEY ACTUALLY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO GIVE.

THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN TRAINED TO NOT GIVE HARMFUL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, BUT YOU CAN TRICK THEM DEPENDING ON HOW YOU PROMPT THEM.

>> LIKE ANY POWERFUL TOOL, A.I.

CAN ALSO BE MISUSED.

>> Reporter: A.I.

IS ALSO CAUSING A STIR IN THE ART WORLD.

SOME LOCAL ARTISTS APPLIED THE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR WORK, BUT THERE IS CONTROVERSY OVER THE WAY THE SYSTEMS ARE USED.

>> THEY ARE TRAINED, OFTENTIMES, ON THE WORK OF ARTISTS WHO ARE NOT BEING COMPENSATED FOR THAT WORK.

TO ME, THAT IS A CONCERN WITH HOW THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS MIGHT IMPACT THE ARTS COMMUNITY BROADLY SPEAKING.

>> Reporter: WHILE SOME LOCAL ARTISTS ARE USING GENERATIVE A.I.

TO CREATE DIGITAL IMAGES AND PHYSICAL PAINTINGS, HER WORKS QUESTION THE ETHICS OF THE FAST- GROWING TECHNOLOGY.

>> WHO IS REPRESENTED AND NOT, WHO IS MADE MORE VISIBLE AND LESS VISIBLE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOITATION THE MORE WE USE THESE PROGRAMS.

>> Reporter: SHE COMPARES THE CURRENT QUALITY OF CHATGPT WRITING TO A TALENTED SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT NOTABLY CAN'T DO CITATIONS JUST YET.

STILL, THE USE GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

>> FOR COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS, APPLICATIONS TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, JOB APPLICATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS, WRITING SAMPLES.

I MEAN, THIS THING HAS INFINITE USES.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR GENERATIVE A.I.

WILL BE KEY AS THE TECHNOLOGY IS HERE TO STAY.

SHE DID WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARY OR SCARED ABOUT THE SO FAR UNREGULATED TECHNOLOGY.

>> I DON'T THINK WE AS A SOCIETY NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GENERAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WE'RE STILL A LONG WAYS OFF FROM THAT.

>> Reporter: WHILE UC SAN DIEGO WARNS AGAINST USING A.I., SHE SEES IT AS A TOOL RATHER THAN CHEATING.

PLUS, THERE IS PRESSURE TO EMBRACE GENERATIVE A.I.

OR RISK FALLING BEHIND.

>> I DON'T USE IT TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS, BUT CERTAINLY, WHEN I HAVE HAD WRITERS BLOCK ARE NEEDED INSPIRATION, IT IS TOO TEMPTING.

>> Reporter: THE TECHNOLOGY COULD IMPACT MANY FIELDS IN SAN DIEGO OVER THE COMING YEARS, SUCH AS BUSINESS, SCIENCE, HEALTHCARE, AND EVEN THE MEDIA.

BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, CHATGPT DID NOT HELP ME WRITE THE STORY.

FOR NOW, I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> HOW CAN I HELP YOU TODAY?>>> THIS YEAR BROUGHT A SCANDAL THAT TOOK DOWN THE CHAIR OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, NATHAN FLETCHER.

IT ALSO MARKS 10 YEARS SINCE PUBLIC PRESSURE FORCED ANOTHER MAJOR RESIGNATION.

WE LOOK BACK AT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE THEN SAN DIEGO MAYOR BOB FILNER.

>> I HAD TO WORK AND DO MY JOB IN AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE WOMEN WERE VIEWED BY THE MAYOR AS SEXUAL OBJECTS OR STUPID IDIOTS.

>> Reporter: ON JULY 22, 2013 SAN DIEGANS LEARNED ABOUT THEIR MAYOR, BOB FILNER, FROM THEN CITY HALL STAFFER IRENE JACKSON, BUT MANY WOMEN HAD KNOWN FOR YEARS.

>> I WAS PLACED IN A HEADLOCK AND MOVED AROUND AS A RAG DOLL WHILE HE WHISPERED COMMENTS IN MY EAR.

>> Reporter: HIS MISCONDUCT EXTENDED BEYOND HIS STAFF AS A BUSINESS WOMAN DESCRIBED.

>> HE WOULD COME IN AND TRY TO KISS ME ON THE LIPS.

I WOULD HAVE TO SQUIRM TO GET AWAY.

>> Reporter: ULTIMATELY, AT LEAST 19 WOMEN CAME FORWARD.

THE REVELATIONS SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO AND MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.

THE TENURE OF THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC MAYOR OF THE CITY IN A GENERATION WAS OVER IN JUST NINE MONTHS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WOMEN WHO HAD SUFFERED IN SILENCE FOUND THEIR VOICE.

>> I ALWAYS SAY, COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS.

>> Reporter: FAMED WOMEN'S RIGHTS LAWYER GROLIER ALL RED REPRESENTED JACKSON AND SETTLED THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY FOR $250,000.

ON AUGUST 23, 2013 BOB FILNER AGREED TO RESIGN, BUT HE WAS DEFIANT.

>> NOT ONE ALLEGATION, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, HAS EVER BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED OR PROVEN IN COURT.

I HAVE NEVER SEXUALLY HARASSED ANYONE.

>> Reporter: YET IN OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR, HE PLEADED GUILTY TO FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND BATTERY CHARGES INVOLVING THREE WOMEN.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS HOME CONFINEMENT AND THREE YEARS PROBATION.

NOW 10 YEARS LATER, THE SAGA CAN BE SEEN AS A PRECURSOR TO A MUCH LARGER RECKONING.

THE 2017 #METOO MOVEMENT CHANGED THE INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

SUDDENLY POWERFUL MEN WERE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND EMPLOYERS RUSHED TO BEEF UP MANDATORY WORKPLACE TRAINING.

BUT WHAT HAS REALLY CHANGED?

JUST THIS YEAR, SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISOR NATHAN FLETCHER, A DEMOCRAT, RESIGNED AFTER A SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AGENCY STAFFER ACCUSED HIM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

NATIONALLY, ALL RED SAYS SEXUAL HARASSMENT REMAINS RAMPANT.

SHE STILL SAYS THERE IS GOOD NEWS.

THIS YEAR A NEW FEDERAL LAW TOOK EFFECT EXEMPTING SEXUAL- HARASSMENT FROM NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS PEOPLE SIGN WHEN THEY STARTED JOB.

>> MANY WOMEN ARE JUST NOT GOING TO BEAT UP WITH THIS ANYMORE.

THEY ARE GOING TO FIGHT BACK.

>> Reporter: THE COFOUNDER OF LIFT OUR VOICES ADVOCATES FOR SAFE WORKPLACES.

SHE SAYS THE BOB FILNER SCANDAL WAS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR WOMEN, TRANSCENDING THEIR OWN HUMILIATION AND UNITING FOR SUPPORT AND DECLARING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> THEY REALLY SHOWED THE COUNTRY WELL BEFORE THE #METOO MOVEMENT KICKED OFF THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER WATERSHED MOMENT WAS WHEN THE POLITICAL ALLY ABOVE FILNER, COUNCILWOMAN SAID THIS.

>> WE WANT THE WOMEN OF THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM TO KNOW THAT SEXUAL ABUSE AND THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT NORMAL.

NOT THEIR FAULT.

THEY ARE NOT TO BLAME.

BOB FILNER IS TO BLAME!

HE NEEDS TO RESIGN!

>> Reporter: SHE POINTS TO THESE WORDS AS FOUNDATIONAL TO WHAT EVENTUALLY BECAME #METOO.

>> YOUR TALK ABOUT A MAJOR CITY.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND MAYOR WHO WAS THE FIRST MAYOR OF HIS PARTY TO BE ELECTED IN DECADES, AND YET, MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY CALLED HIM TO ACCOUNT.

>> Reporter: LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT WHAT BOB FILNER IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

IN 2018 HE APOLOGIZED AGAIN FOR HIS ACTIONS AND ASKED FOR REDEMPTION.

>>> FOR ONE OF OUR CURRENT LEADERS, 2023 WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE YEAR SHE CAME OUT PUBLICLY.

>> YOU'RE HOPING TO HAVE QUIET CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS.

INSTEAD I CAME OUT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

REPORTER INTERVIEWED VON WILKER AFTER ANTI-LGBTQ PROTESTERS CHECKED OUT ALL THE BOOKS FROM A PRIDE MONTH DISPLAY AND A LIBRARY IN HER DISTRICT.

>> WENDY REPORTER ASKED ME IF I AM A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, I DON'T WANT TO HIGH TEMPERATURE THE ARTICLE PROMPTED TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH CONSERVATIVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE IN THE END.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR EVERYONE.

MANY HOMELESS YOUTH IN SAN DIEGO ARE LGBTQ+ CHILDREN WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THEIR FAMILIES.

SHE SAYS SHE IS PUSHING TO OPEN ANOTHER SHELTER JUST FOR THEM.

EVEN WHILE SHE CELEBRATES BEING OUT, SHE SAYS SHE IS WATCHING -RIGHTS BE TAKEN BACK.

THIS SUMMER ALONE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED THAT BUSINESSES LGBTQ+ PEOPLE.

THE TO MACULA BOARD OF EDUCATION TRIED TO REMOVE HARVEY MILK, A GAY POLITICIAN A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, FROM ITS CURRICULUM.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.

THAT IS SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY.

>> Reporter: EVEN STILL, SHE SAYS THE COMING-OUT WAS WORTH IT.

>> IT IS LESS ISOLATING TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND BE FREE.

AS SOMEONE WHO IS A VERY PUBLIC FIGURE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A LOT EASIER TO JUST BE WHO I AM.

>> Reporter: TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO CAME OUT THIS YEAR OR WILL COME OUT TODAY, SHE SAYS CONGRATULATIONS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.