It’s Been Less Than a Month. The Florida Abortion Ban Is Working.

When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban in April 2023, less than a year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, he stirred up considerable controversy. It’s a significant win for pro-lifers, and it fits perfectly into the Handmaid’s Tale narrative that left-wing news outlets like the Washington Post are selling to Americans.

Earlier this month, the ban went into effect. The result? A plethora of articles about the “terrifying new normal” that Planned Parenthood is now experiencing. Women who want to get abortions past six weeks now have to wait an average of 14 days and drive 590 miles to the nearest clinic outside the state, according to the Washington Post. As intended, it seems that it has become far more difficult for abortion clinics to kill children in their mother’s womb.

Artificial intelligence, influenced as it is by the left-wing media, is just as distraught as the Washington Post. How do I know? Well, I asked Chat GPT 4o to write a 300-word article — and the results could have been produced by journalists at the Washington Post or the New York Times. It wasn’t explicitly biased (these things rarely are), but word choice is key. My challenge to readers this week is simple: Fact-check AI, critique the writing, and identify the bias. There are a few gems, and I’m sure you’ll be able to catch them in the comments below!

Prompt: Write a 300-word article with sources about Florida’s abortion ban. Talk about the impacts the ban has had and the controversies surrounding it. 

ChatGPT 40: Florida’s abortion ban, one of the most restrictive in the United States, has had significant impacts and sparked considerable controversy since its enactment. The ban, which prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in April 2023 and went into effect following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022.

The primary impact of the ban is on women’s healthcare. Many women do not realize they are pregnant until after six weeks, effectively eliminating the option for many. This restriction has forced women to seek services out of state, leading to increased travel and financial burdens, particularly for low-income individuals. Clinics in neighboring states like Georgia and Alabama have reported surges in patients from Florida, straining their resources and increasing wait times for all women seeking abortions.

Healthcare providers in Florida have faced legal and ethical dilemmas under the ban. Many fear legal repercussions for providing what they consider necessary medical care, leading to reluctance in treating complications that arise during pregnancies. This hesitancy has sometimes resulted in delays or refusals of critical care, endangering women’s health.

The ban has also ignited intense political and social controversy. Supporters, primarily from conservative and religious groups, argue that the ban protects the unborn and reflects moral and ethical standards. They see it as a victory for the pro-life movement and a necessary measure to safeguard fetal rights. On the other hand, opponents, including women’s rights advocates and many medical professionals, argue that the ban is an infringement on women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. They contend that it disproportionately affects marginalized communities, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare access.

Legal challenges to the ban are ongoing, with opponents arguing that it violates privacy and equal protection clauses under the state constitution. The controversy around Florida’s abortion ban underscores the deep divisions in American society regarding reproductive rights and the role of government in personal healthcare decisions.