In the car, halfway to school, my son lifted his eyes from the phone long enough to say, “Did you know, in Japan, workers who get to the office early park farther away, leaving the closer spots for others that come later?” I didn’t know. And, because I’m never quite sure where my son gets his content, my first question was, “Is it true?” We arrived at school just after settling on an answer.
Later in the day, reflecting on the experience, I felt that I missed an opportunity. A better conversation would have started with a different question, such as, “Why is this interesting to you?” Or, “Do you think such a practice could have evolved in the United States?” Maybe, “How might this behavior benefit companies?” I could go on. It’s not that the truth no longer mattered to me, it just should have been less urgent than the opportunity to connect with and explore an interesting concept with my son.
In the first act of The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde wrote, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” That was in 1895. Today, his assertion seems more relevant than ever. Misinformation, whether deliberate or unintentional, has always been part of the human experience. But technology (and the business models associated with many of them) has introduced a new level of complexity. AI, for example, can be used by humans to generate deepfakes and fabricate convincing yet false news stories, while social media platforms (powered by big data and commercial-driven algorithms) spread these stories at lightning speed.
Fabrications no longer serve only people, some AI systems have already learned to deceive humans, creating false beliefs to achieve outcomes other than the truth. That reminds me of another quote, which has been (falsely?!) attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” We have muddied the waters of reality and that has significantly diminished trust.
Of course, technology also offers a potential solution. As much as big tech has contributed to the spread of misinformation, it also offers powerful tools to fight it. AI systems are being developed to identify false content, fact-check in real time, and alert users when they encounter potentially misleading information. Let the robot truth wars begin!
More importantly, and this is the main point of my holiday message, the need to address misinformation reminds us of the value of human connection. In a world where fake news and AI-generated falsehoods spread so easily, I believe the importance of meaningful, face-to-face interactions is elevated. This season, as we gather with family and friends, it’s a reminder to cherish the conversations and shared experiences that ground us in reality and build trust, keeping us connected to what truly matters.
Try to take advantage of opportunities like the one I missed with my son. To be clear, I’m not only encouraging more conversations, but also better ones. The fact is that many of us enter conversations more to assert our own opinions, establish authority, and get our way, rather than to explore ideas and different perspectives, build relationships, and move towards the truth. We are, after all, only human, with all the associated deep-seated psychological needs and cognitive biases.
The answer to misinformation is not just more advanced AI tools (and tighter regulations), it is our human capacities for empathy, critical thinking, and open dialogue. It is up to us to build environments in which meaningful conversations can thrive; to cultivate cultures where we question and discuss, and yes, seek out reliable information, especially when we are flooded with content. The truth may be elusive and will never be simple, but that doesn’t have to slow human progress. Let’s celebrate the season by recommitting ourselves to talking about the things that matter, equipped with human wisdom—as well as the best AI tools at our disposal.
ChatGPT was used as a tool by the author to brainstorm and shape key points. Any errors that remain are the sole responsibility of the author.