From the article:
This chatbot experiment reveals that, contrary to popular belief, many conspiracy thinkers aren’t ‘too far gone’ to reconsider their convictions and change their minds.
Another way of looking at it: “AI successfully used to manipulate people’s opinions on certain topics.” If it can persuade them to stop believing conspiracy theories, AI can also be used to make people believe conspiracy theories.
Anything can be used to make people believe them. That’s not new or a challenge.
I’m genuinely surprised that removing such beliefs is feasible at all though.
If they’re gullible enough to be suckered into it, they can similarly be suckered out of it - but clearly the effect would not be permanent.
That doesn’t follow with the “if you didnt reason your way into a believe you can’t reason your way out” line. Considering religious ferver I’m more inclined to believe this line than yours.