Jeff Watkins

The Four Horsemen of the Information Apocalypse: Taming the Wild West of Information Overload

What are the four horsemen of the information apocalypse? Discover how AI is both the problem and the solution in our fight for truth.

The Four Horsemen of the Information Apocalypse: Taming the Wild West of Information Overload
#1about 5 minutes

Questioning the reality of commonly accepted facts

Common knowledge, like who invented the light bulb, is often a simplified version of a more complex truth.

#2about 3 minutes

The accelerating evolution of information transmission

Information spread has rapidly evolved from stone tablets to algorithmic media, increasing speed and breadth while lowering costs.

#3about 3 minutes

Defining misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation

The three types of harmful information are distinguished by their accuracy and the intent behind their creation and spread.

#4about 5 minutes

How misinformation spreads and becomes accepted truth

Misinformation leverages cognitive biases like the illusory truth effect and is amplified by polarization and social media algorithms.

#5about 4 minutes

How generative AI accelerates the spread of misinformation

Generative AI creates highly persuasive, hyper-personalized, and scalable misinformation, as evidenced by the surge in phishing attacks.

#6about 2 minutes

The danger of deepfakes and the liar's dividend

AI-generated deepfakes erode trust in audio and visual media, creating a "liar's dividend" where real evidence can be dismissed as fake.

#7about 2 minutes

The threat of non-information and platform decay

AI-generated "slop" or non-information clogs platforms, leading to platform decay and the potential for AI model collapse.

#8about 2 minutes

Using AI as a tool to fight misinformation

AI can be a powerful ally in combating misinformation through automated fact-checking, content moderation, and improved platform algorithms.

#9about 3 minutes

Practical steps to build resilience against misinformation

Individuals can fight misinformation by using fact-checkers, promoting media literacy, and ethically communicating the truth.

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