Patrick DePeters

Our Last Line of Defense against the advent and proliferation of AI, social media, and the limitless distribution of information is Critical Thinking.

At the heart of human progress lies our capacity for critical thinking. The ability to think critically for oneself is an essential skill that sets us apart from machines, enabling us to make informed decisions, adapt to new situations, challenge prevailing norms, and progress toward our noble ideals. By nurturing this skill, we foster intellectual curiosity and innovation and build resilience against the potential pitfalls of AI, news, social media, and the increasingly imperceptible mixture of the two.

To preserve our last line of defense, we must recognize AI’s limitations and embrace critical thinking’s role in our lives. AI, while powerful, is not infallible; it is only as good as the data it processes and the algorithms it employs. By acknowledging these limitations, we empower ourselves to question the conclusions drawn by AI systems, thereby mitigating the risk of being led astray by biased or erroneous information.

Trust but Verify: The Role of Verification, Credibility, and Fact-based Journalism

As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, the courage to fight for truth and wisdom is more important than ever. In an age where misinformation and disinformation can spread like wildfire across all media, the ability to discern fact from fiction is paramount. The adage “trust but verify” is a vital reminder that we must always seek to confirm the integrity of information, even if it comes from AI systems or other seemingly reliable sources.

Of all the studies people cite in the media, how many of us check to find the primary resource for ourselves? Many remarkable examples of people trusting the legitimacy of seemingly authoritative studies without investigating the actual study’s integrity. An example of how medical professionals believed OxyContin to be safe and not subject to abuse is because a “study” was “published” in a leading medical journal. That “study” was a letter to the editor with clinical anecdotes without scientific integrity. Just think about what followed the medical profession’s failure to verify.

Thus, we must be vigilant in standing guard for truth and arm ourselves with our innately human capacity (which is also a skill and therefore must be developed) for critical thinking to discern honesty and integrity from fiction and manipulation. We should embrace a healthy dose of skepticism for much of what we consume to collectively defang lies before they gain virality and cause real and potentially irreversible damage in our society.

We should also be aware that these AI systems are informed by the vast oceans of content on the internet — which includes content that isn’t a lie but is also not true. Think of satirical content on sites like TheOnion.com. How will we know that a “fact” the AI system spits out to you is not either wholly misrepresented without context, drawn from not credible sources, or entirely hallucinated into a Frankenstein-like assemblage of novel “fictional facts”? The idea of “truthiness,” as coined by Steven Cobert, is that “people” are entitled to their own opinions but not their facts.

As the trite saying goes, our future will require a lot more “good guys” with “guns” to protect against the surplus (but hopefully nowhere near the majority) of bad actors around the world who also have access, if not control, over equally powerful AI and media “guns” at their disposal. Our goal should be to remain impenetrable as individuals and as a society with an independent ability to discern, validate, and employ our formidable capacity for wise intuition and sound logic. Look no further than Russia’s autocratic state under Vladimir Putin for but one current example of what happens when propaganda and insulation meet fear, blind trust, and the malevolent agendas of powerful actors.

Verification, credibility, and robust, fact-based journalism are essential in maintaining an informed and discerning society. By supporting and promoting these pillars of truth, we help ensure the integrity of the information we consume and share. Furthermore, each of us is responsible for remaining vigilant in the face of exponentially powerful AI tools and systems.

Society is now changing more quickly and profoundly than ever. If there was ever a time to routinely employ our critical thinking skills as individuals and as a society, that time is now. Most of us will not have a seat at the table when the technologists and regulators decide what, if any, guard rails they will install and what, if any, circuit breakers they might be able to flip if the systems evolve exponentially (as is the nature of such technologies) in ways our society doesn’t benefit from. However, we can focus on our circles of influence and ensure that we play our part in preserving stability and integrity in our society as both consumers and creators of content.

In conclusion, the advent of AI has undoubtedly changed the world in countless ways, but it is crucial to remember that these advancements come with responsibilities. By recognizing the importance of critical thinking, finding the courage to fight for truth and wisdom, and the vital role of verification, credibility, and fact-based journalism, we can help ensure that we remain the masters of our destiny rather than being enslaved by the very technology we created. In the age of AI and ubiquitous technology, it is our responsibility to uphold and nurture perhaps our most sacrosanct skill as humans — the ability to think critically for oneself — as our last line of defense against the erosion of our intellectual autonomy. As we embrace the future, let us remain steadfast in our pursuit of truth, wisdom, and the power of critical thinking.