3.2.2: What About AI-Generated Information?
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What Exactly Do We Mean By "AI"?
The term "artificial intelligence" or "AI" can refer to many different technologies. When we think of AI today, most of us think of something like ChatGPT, which is a specific type of AI -- called a large language model or LLM -- that generates text. Most generally, AI refers to "computer systems that can perform complex tasks normally done by human-reasoning, decision making, creating, etc." (NASA, 2024).
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A system that learns how to learn and applies what it has learned to a specific task. |
A system that learns to recognize patterns in content used in its training (text, images, data, etc.) and produces content that mimics the source material used in its training. |
A system that responds to natural language inputs and produces natural-sounding paragraphs of text. LLMs use probability to predict the next word in a sentence. |
Despite the terms used to describe it, AI is not actually "intelligent" in that it is not conscious and does not "understand" text or images in the way humans do. Instead, it predicts a plausible response based on its training material.
Can AI Produce Mis/Disinformation?
AI "Hallucinations"
Generative AI tools do not always create accurate information. Though they mimic human-created text or images, they do not fact-check what they create. The term AI hallucination is used to describe AI-generated "information that seems plausible but is actually inaccurate or misleading" (Choi & Mei, 2025). For example, ChatGPT might create citations for sources that do not actually exist. Because AI does not have the consciousness to lie on purpose, AI hallucinations a form of misinformation rather than disinformation. However, humans can use AI to spread disinformation.
Malicious Use of AI
In addition to unintentional AI hallucinations, AI tools make the creation of large amounts of disinformation cheaper for those who want to spread it. As a result, "we’re now seeing the real-life impacts by malicious actors, in the form of networks of AI-generated news websites and ‘deepfakes’ of politicians which attempt to persuade the public" (Williams, 2024).
Learn more about this issue, and about some of the pros and cons of large language models, by watching the video below.
Other Issues Related to AI
AI can also present privacy, ethical, and environmental issues. We will address those concerns in later chapters of this book.
Sources
Choi, A. & Mei, K.X. (2025, Mar 21). What are AI hallucinations? Why AIs sometimes make things up. The Conversation.
Image: Futuristic brain cyborg technology by Felix Martinez from Pixabay.
Kuhn, C. (2024, Nov 1). How to spot AI and misinformation online. uploaded by PBS NewsHour.
NASA. (2024, May 13). What is artificial intelligence? National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Williams, A.R. (2024, May 31). Online misinformation: how generative AI and LLMs are changing the game. The Alan Turing Institute.