From Chat GPT to Deepfakes: Preparing Students to Navigate the Era of AI-Generated Disinformation

ChatGPT, the OpenAI chatbot, can write code, draft essays, pass exams, create instructions, and much more - all in a matter of seconds. Apps like Faceswap or Zao use AI to create (increasingly impressive and realistic) videos that replace the likeness of one person with another. While many educators are still learning how these tools work, some researchers who study the spread of mis-, dis- and mal- information online have started ringing alarm bells as these tools are employed to mass produce propaganda, hate speech, and other forms of harmful content, on a scale the world has never seen before. In this session, we'll explore the challenges of combating disinformation in the era of AI and discuss effective strategies for preparing today’s learners to navigate this complex landscape in ways that focus on critical thinking and ethical information habits.