I believe that artificial intelligence won’t exacerbate the spread of misinformation.

Will Artificial Intelligence Worsen the Disinformation Crisis? A Thoughtful Perspective

In recent discussions, a common concern has been that AI technology could amplify the spread of disinformation, making it easier to generate vast amounts of false or misleading content at scale. Many worry that as AI-generated “junk” becomes more prevalent on social media, our exposure to misinformation could increase exponentially.

However, I believe this fear might be overestimated. Consider the typical user—if you or I set out to browse TikTok or any other short-form content platform, we’d probably consume around 100 to 150 videos in a single session. Whether the videos are produced by humans or AI, the volume stays about the same. Introducing AI-generated content doesn’t necessarily increase the total number of videos we view, just the source.

It’s important to recognize that human-generated disinformation has already reached staggering levels. We’ve been inundated with falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and manipulated narratives for years. Adding a petabyte of AI-crafted misinformation might increase the quantity, but from the perspective of the average consumer, the proportion of disinformation encountered remains relatively unchanged. Our consumption patterns tend to focus on what entertains or engages us—be it funny videos, fall tricks, political debates, or casual browsing—and not all content is perceived as equally credible.

Moreover, the format in which disinformation is delivered is crucial. Often, misinformation isn’t just about outright lies; it’s about the way content is presented. Edited clips, provocative thumbnails, or seemingly casual commentary can subtly influence perceptions without appearing overtly deceptive. For instance, a clipped statement from a celebrity or politician, taken out of context and presented with misleading captions or editing, can be far more persuasive and dangerous than a blatant lie.

The main challenge might not be the quantity of disinformation facilitated by AI but its perception and delivery. Yet, considering how people consume media—through snippets, memes, and fast-paced videos—the impact of sophisticated AI manipulation may not be significantly different from existing tactics. In essence, the human mind’s filtering and pattern recognition capabilities continue to play a vital role in shaping our understanding.

To sum up, while AI certainly has the potential to create more convincing or subtle disinformation, it might not fundamentally increase the amount of false content that an average person encounters. Instead, it may reinforce existing patterns of consumption, where the formats and contexts are already conducive to manipulation.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you see AI as