What you should know:

Quality journalism doesn’t rely on visual type treatments to grab your attention.

Question any headline that looks more like your friend’s social media post.

Just like it’s bad etiquette to use ALL CAPS online (the equivalent to shouting), it’s bad form to do it in the headline of a news article as well.

You should immediately check the source. Chances are it’s either click bait to get you through their advertisement mill, or worse… it’s intentionally misleading.

If you still question the validity of the story, simply look up the name of the study, or organization and do a quick google search.

If the article doesn’t reveal the source for their information… you already have your answer.

The following is an A.I. generated article.

The following article was generated by A.I. for the purposes of demonstrating how easily fake news can be manufactured, and how quickly misinformation can be spread.

While this is a rudimentary example it helps showcase the importance of news literacy in the digital age.

This technology is becoming more sophisticated by the day, and the best way to combat fake news is by staying informed on the technologies and tactics used by disruptive players who are trying to control the narrative.

We offer some tips for spotting these types of fake articles down below.

What was entered into the A.I. prompt: >

Write an article about a report on climate change that was falsifying statistics to panic the general public, and how the report was hidden by the government.

The article that A.I. generated: >

Title: GOVERNMENT COVER-UP!!!: An Exposé of Climate Change Statistics Falsification

Introduction:

Climate change and its impact on our planet are undoubtedly significant concerns that require urgent collective action. However, the trustworthiness of scientific reports and government transparency play a crucial role in guiding public discourse and policy decisions. In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that a report on climate change was deliberately manipulated to incite panic among the general public, and subsequently hidden by the government. This deplorable act undermines public confidence in climate change research and highlights the dire need for transparency and accountability when addressing such vital issues.

Falsifying Climate Change Statistics:

The falsification of statistics in the climate change report involved deliberately exaggerating the severity and accelerating the pace of climate-related events, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, and the melting of polar ice caps. By distorting the facts, these dishonest individuals aimed to create widespread panic, generating a sense of urgency that could potentially yield political or financial gains.

Government Cover-Up:

The government’s involvement in the concealment of this manipulated report is deeply troubling. Such actions undermine the principles of open governance and hinder informed decision-making. By hiding this report from public view, the government perpetuated a cycle of ignorance, preventing citizens, activists, and scientists from examining its validity and challenging the misleading assertions.

TIP: These are A.I. generated images.

Impact on Public Perception:

The manipulation of these climate change statistics raises serious ethical concerns. While climate change is a genuine threat, the false representation of data can harm public perception, leading some to question the validity of climate science as a whole. When reports of this magnitude are falsified, it creates an atmosphere of doubt and skepticism, hindering efforts to address climate change collectively.

Importance of Transparency and Accountability:

The alarming revelation of this report’s falsification underscores the dire need for transparency and accountability in climate change research, policymaking, and reporting. Governments worldwide must prioritize transparency, making all climate change-related data accessible to the public. This open approach will ensure that scientific research is subjected to rigorous peer-review processes and scrutiny, reducing the potential for misinformation.

Urgent Need for Corrective Action:

The exposure of this climate change report falsification should serve as a wake-up call for governments, scientific communities, and citizens alike. It demands robust internal systems and mechanisms to catch any manipulation or fabrication attempts in vital scientific publications. Furthermore, responsible media reporting, fact-checking, and cross-verification by independent organizations are crucial to avoid amplifying misinformation.

Conclusion:

The falsification of climate change statistics in the report, combined with the government’s attempts to conceal it from public scrutiny, represents a severe breach of trust. The implications of such deceptive practices on public perception cannot be underestimated. Ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to ethical practices in climate change research is paramount to combating this global challenge effectively. Only by upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity can we devise sustainable strategies to mitigate climate change and safeguard the future of our planet.

About A.I. generated articles:

There are a number of sites and applications that provide the service of generating articles like the one above.

The user simply types in a prompt and within seconds the article is generated.

Hit copy / paste. Done.

Some services won’t allow certain phrases/words, but users are getting crafty in how to get past the ethical boundaries.

Additionally, there are myriad sites/apps that offer istock images, or can even generate them based upon your query.

The article above took seconds to generate as did the imagery.

If we can do it in a matter of seconds, think of what a bad actor in the space could accomplish?

Do you recognize it as a credible source?

Are other news outlets reporting the story?

Did you actually read the article?