NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Quickly after news dropped of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces in January, misleading AI-generated content began racking up millions of views on social media. As technological advancements give anyone the ability to create compelling footage, social media platforms have given those posts a place to rapidly spread, diluting the ability to find trustworthy content. News Hour talks with Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who emphasized that social media platforms aren't the place to search for news unless it’s posted by credible, verified news accounts.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who is affected by fake images using AI over social media?
- When did the problem of misinformation and disinformation begin, according to Prof. Farid?
- Why are creators and social media companies going through such effort to create fake images with images?
- What guardrails or barriers exist to help the public know what content is fake and what isn't, according to Farid?
- How is using trusted sources the most reliable way to avoid getting fooled by AI, according to Farid?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Do you agree with Prof. Hany Farid that social media is not a place to get reliable information? Explain.
- How does fake AI content make the political divisions in our country even worse?
- What do you think needs to be done to improve the problem of fake AI content?
Media literacy: How does Farid detect what information is real and what is fake? Without access to such technology, what are strategies to not be tricked by fake AI content?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Read this section with a family member or classmate on recognizing AI-generated information from the Learning for Justice article, "Media Literacy Is Vital for Informed Decision-Making." Be sure to take a look at the SPLC link at the end to see what questions you said "YES" to — though as the authors state, AI technology is changing so fast that such clues may soon prove futile.
"4. Recognize Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated disinformation.
Fake or misleading posts include images as well. You can perform a reverse image search to see where this image has shown up before and if it’s been altered.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can make it easy for individuals to create fake images and videos to mislead people. The Brennan Center for Justice encourages us all to take steps to recognize and resist inauthentic content designed to mislead and influence political views.
You may also want to check out the SPLC’s article 'Tips for Spotting AI-Generated Election Disinformation and Propaganda' recommends a practical series of questions to ask in analyzing digital content. These questions are useful for still images and video content."
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