Why AI Makes Believing the Truth Harder

February 9, 2026

TL;DR

Social media has entered a third phase, with AI-generated content adding to friend, family, and creator content.
Meta earned $16 billion in 2024 from ads for scams and banned goods, often utilizing AI to appear legitimate.
AI-generated images and videos are increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic content.
The rise of 'slop,' or low-quality AI-generated content, is a significant issue on platforms like YouTube.
Experts fear AI-generated content will lead to widespread skepticism, making people doubt even true information.
High-visibility deepfake incidents (e.g., Zelensky, Biden impersonation) may obscure the more pervasive, infrastructural harm of AI media.
AI-generated content is being weaponized in geopolitical contexts, such as in Iran and by Russian/Iranian regimes to dismiss verified videos.
Malicious actors are using AI to spread disinformation and scam victims, with reports rising significantly.
AI agents could be used to manipulate beliefs and behaviors on a population-wide scale, threatening democracy.
Advancements in AI video generation, like OpenAI's Sora, have dramatically increased the realism of synthetic media.
Good journalism producing trustworthy information is expected to become more valuable in discerning truth.

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