I don’t think AI is going to make disinformation worse.

Will Artificial Intelligence Really Worsen the Disinformation Crisis? A Balanced Perspective

As the integration of artificial intelligence continues to expand across digital platforms, a common concern among experts and users alike is the potential surge in disinformation. Many fear that AI’s ability to generate vast amounts of content might flood social media with misleading or false information, amplifying existing challenges.

However, upon closer analysis, this apprehension might be overstated. To understand why, let’s consider the nature of content consumption and the scale of existing disinformation.

Imagine scrolling through your favorite social media app—be it TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. Most of us view a limited number of short, engaging clips in a session. Whether these are generated by humans or AI doesn’t significantly alter the quantity of content we encounter. Our algorithms are designed around user preferences, so regardless of the origin, the volume we consume remains relatively stable.

It’s important to recognize that humans have been producing an enormous amount of disinformation for years. From political falsehoods to sensationalist rumors, the landscape is already saturated. Introducing an additional massive influx of AI-generated content may not dramatically increase the amount of disinformation we see; our attention span and consumption habits serve as natural filters.

Furthermore, our attentional focus is drawn to what entertains or interests us most. Typically, our feeds are a mix—say, one-third animal videos, some amusing mishaps, political commentary, and other random content. The proportion of disinformation within this mix hasn’t fundamentally changed in recent years, and there’s little reason to believe it will with AI’s involvement.

Of course, AI can produce more subtle forms of deception—such as doctored videos featuring politicians or celebrities saying things they never did. These “deepfakes” and manipulated clips are a genuine concern, but in the grand ecosystem of information consumption, their impact might be limited. People are increasingly skeptical of such content, and detection methods are advancing in tandem.

In conclusion, while AI certainly introduces new tools for creating deceptive content, it may not necessarily worsen the disinformation crisis as drastically as some fear. Our habits, preferences, and existing information landscape already set boundaries on what we consume. The real challenge lies in developing better detection and media literacy skills to navigate this evolving digital environment.

What are your thoughts?