The Decline of Truth-Seeking Motivation in Modern Society

Experts fear AI could erode what remains of consensus reality, as the proliferation of sophisticated artificial intelligence tools transforms the landscape of online misinformation in ways that dwarf previous digital deception challenges.

In 2016, the United States experienced a watershed moment when social media disinformation flooded platforms during the presidential election, triggering widespread concern about digital falsehoods. The aftermath included Senate hearings, extensive research, and the popularization of the term “fake news” as society grappled with technology outpacing information safeguards.

A decade later, the challenge has evolved dramatically with artificial intelligence at the forefront. Tools like OpenAI’s Sora now allow virtually anyone to generate remarkably convincing videos that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic footage. Third-party applications can remove watermarks identifying AI-generated content—or even add fake watermarks to genuine videos, further complicating verification efforts.

“In terms of just looking at an image or a video, it will essentially become impossible to detect if it’s fake. I think that we’re getting close to that point, if we’re not already there,” warned Jeff Hancock, founding director of Stanford Social Media Lab.

The traditional methods of identifying AI-generated content are rapidly becoming obsolete. Users previously relied on spotting “tells” such as incorrect finger counts in AI-generated images, but advancing technology is eliminating these distinguishing characteristics.

The institutional safeguards implemented after 2016 have also weakened. While Facebook and Twitter initially deployed robust trust and safety measures to combat disinformation, Facebook has since scaled back these efforts. Twitter, now rebranded as X under Elon Musk’s ownership, has dismantled many of its counterdisinformation initiatives.

Real-world consequences are already evident. During Hurricane Melissa, an AI-generated video went viral after being stripped of context about its artificial origin, confusing both users and news organizations attempting to report accurate information during a crisis.

The implications extend beyond information integrity. AI development has created significant infrastructure challenges, with data centers straining power grids and causing electricity costs to rise sharply in some regions. The Department of Energy has issued rare warnings about grid capacity due to AI’s growing energy demands.

Research following the 2016 disinformation wave revealed that the prevalence of false information enabled users to selectively consume news that reinforced their existing beliefs, regardless of factual accuracy. This phenomenon threatens to intensify with AI-generated content.

Renee Hobbs, a professor at the University of Rhode Island, highlights the “cognitive exhaustion” resulting from constant exposure to questionable information—a technique sometimes called the “firehose” model of propaganda. This bombardment of potentially false content has profound psychological effects.

“If constant doubt and anxiety about what to trust is the norm, then actually, disengagement is a logical response,” Hobbs explained to NBC News, describing a coping mechanism with potentially devastating consequences. “When people stop caring about whether something’s true or not, then the danger is not just deception, but actually it’s worse than that. It’s the whole collapse of even being motivated to seek truth.”

The challenge requires multi-faceted solutions. Hobbs and fellow researchers are working to integrate generative AI into media literacy education, though individual efforts may be insufficient against the scale of the problem.

Advocacy groups suggest that concerned citizens should contact legislators to push for regulatory frameworks addressing AI-generated disinformation. Industry experts argue that technology companies must take greater responsibility for the tools they develop and deploy.

As election seasons approach in numerous countries, including the United States, the urgency to develop effective responses to AI-enhanced disinformation campaigns grows. Without coordinated action from technology companies, governments, and civil society, the foundations of shared reality that underpin democratic discourse may face unprecedented threats.