I Trust That Artificial Intelligence Will Not Worsen the Dissemination of False Information

The Impact of AI on Disinformation: A Closer Look

In recent discussions about digital trust and misinformation, a common concern has emerged: Will artificial intelligence exacerbate the spread of disinformation? Many fear that AI’s capacity to generate vast amounts of content could flood social media platforms with convincing yet false information, making it harder for users to discern truth from fiction.

Understanding the Nature of Content Consumption

At first glance, it might seem intuitive that an increase in AI-produced content would directly lead to a surge in disinformation. After all, social media is already saturated with user-generated material, much of which is unverified or misleading. If AI amplifies this volume, wouldn’t the problem become significantly worse?

However, when examining typical content engagement patterns, the picture becomes more nuanced. Whether you’re scrolling through TikTok or any other platform, your interaction is generally limited to a handful of videos—say, around 100 to 150 per session. Whether these videos are human-generated or AI-created, the quantity of content you consume in a sitting remains relatively stable. The presence of AI-generated content might increase the absolute volume, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to more exposure per user because our attention spans and viewing habits are finite.

Disinformation’s Scale and Human Behavior

Moreover, humans have always been exposed to an enormous amount of misinformation—much of it generated by people rather than AI. Historically, we ingest a vast, unmanageable stream of false or misleading information. Introducing additional AI-crafted content, even on a petabyte scale, may not fundamentally alter what catches our eye or influences our perceptions.

In my experience, the core makeup of content that draws our attention remains consistent. I tend to watch a mixture of cat videos, humorous clips, emotional political content, and miscellaneous topics. The proportions haven’t changed significantly over the past several years, regardless of the source of the content. Our brains are tuned to certain formats and narratives, and AI doesn’t seem to shift this internal wiring dramatically.

The Subtleties of Disinformation Formats

Not all disinformation is blatant falsehoods; much of it operates subtly, embedded within familiar formats. For example, a clip of a political figure with highly curated edits or a provocative statement from a celebrity could be legitimate content with misleading framing. These formats make disinformation less obvious and more insidious.

A recent trend involves doctored clips—videos of public figures saying things they never said, manipulated to suit particular narratives. While such content might seem alarming, the sheer