I believe that AI will not exacerbate the spread of misinformation.

Will AI Accelerate the Spread of Disinformation? A Critical Perspective

In recent discussions, many have expressed concern that artificial intelligence could significantly exacerbate the problem of misinformation and disinformation. The fear is that AI’s ability to generate vast quantities of synthetic content at scale will flood social media platforms, making it even harder to discern fact from fiction. But is this worry entirely justified?

Assessing the Reality of AI-Generated Content

It’s true that AI models can produce large volumes of content—much of it low-quality or misleading—that populates social media feeds. Given the prevalence of AI-generated “junk,” one might assume that the overall amount of disinformation would inevitably rise. However, when you consider human behavior and media consumption patterns, the picture isn’t so straightforward.

Suppose we take a typical scenario: spending some time scrolling through platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Both humans and AI-generated content are part of the mix. Interestingly, the number of videos or posts we view in a session remains roughly the same—typically around 100 to 150 pieces of content. Injecting more AI-produced material doesn’t necessarily increase this total; it simply adds more noise to the existing stream.

Disinformation in Context

Humans have been creating and spreading disinformation long before the advent of AI. We are inundated with false narratives, misrepresentations, and sensationalism—at an incomprehensible scale. Consequently, adding AI-generated falsehoods to the mix might not significantly alter what we encounter daily. The algorithms that curate our feeds are more influenced by controlling what captures our attention than by the raw volume of false content.

Content Formats and Subtle Disinformation

A more insidious challenge isn’t overt lies. Often, disinformation takes the form of manipulated clips or edited snippets—think of a famous politician or celebrity appearing to say something they never uttered. These fabricated videos can be sophisticated and convincing, creating a false sense of authenticity. Because they are presented within familiar formats, such as a clip with a recognizable personality, they can be more persuasive and harder to detect.

Will Deepfake and Manipulated Media Make Disinformation Worse?

The concern here is that AI, especially deepfake technology, will facilitate the production of realistic but false recordings. While this is a valid point, the overall impact may be less dramatic than feared. After all, the sheer volume of media consumed—partly driven by behavior and partly by content availability—means that viewers tend to focus on what