I Believe AI Will Not Amplify the Spread of Misinformation

Will AI Really Worsen the Disinformation Crisis? A Nuanced Perspective

In recent discussions, a common concern has emerged: that artificial intelligence will significantly amplify the spread of false information, flooding the digital landscape with scalable misinformation. Many worry that as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, the volume of disinformation will surge, making it harder for users to discern truth from falsehoods.

However, when examining this claim more closely, I believe the situation isn’t quite as dire as some suggest. Let’s break down why that might be.

Imagine you and I each pick up our smartphones for a typical browsing session — scrolling through TikTok or your preferred social media platform. Despite the influx of AI-generated content, our estimates for how much time or how many videos we might consume stay surprisingly consistent, around 100 to 150 short clips. Even if the AI adds a layer of synthetic videos, the overall volume of content we engage with probably doesn’t increase dramatically.

It’s important to note that the internet has long been saturated with human-created disinformation, often at an overwhelming scale. The addition of AI-produced content, while substantial, doesn’t necessarily increase my exposure to misinformation in a way that fundamentally alters my media consumption patterns. My interests and attention span remain the guiding factors — if I find certain content entertaining or relevant, I’ll watch, regardless of how it was produced.

Furthermore, our susceptibility to misinformation isn’t solely about its presence but also how it’s presented. Shaping a false narrative through subtle formats such as edited clips or emotionally charged snippets can be more impactful than outright lies. For example, a politically charged video featuring a heavily modified clip or a provocative quote can influence perceptions without appearing obviously deceptive. This kind of content is often more insidious because it blends seamlessly into the fabric of everyday media consumption, making it harder to detect.

The real concern might be the proliferation of doctored images or false statements attributed to celebrities or politicians—deepfakes and manipulated videos that convincingly portray individuals saying or doing things they never did. However, in the context of the vast and ongoing influx of misinformation, such targeted fabrication may not substantially shift the overall landscape. People tend to consume content based on interest and engagement rather than meticulous fact-checking of every clip they see.

Ultimately, AI’s role isn’t solely to generate more disinformation but to change how it is woven into our digital environment. While it presents new challenges, my hunch is that its impact on the volume of misinformation we encounter daily