Tech Companies Pour Billions into AI Development, but Risks of Fake News Rise
amsterdam, woensdag, 6 augustus 2025.
Tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft are investing billions of dollars in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), leading to faster innovation and new applications. However, this rapid development also brings new challenges, such as the risk of spreading fake news. Research indicates that custom algorithms of social media keep users on platforms longer, which is positive for advertising sales, but also increases the need to develop effective methods to recognise and combat fake news.
Massive Investments in AI
Tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are making substantial profits and are therefore investing significantly in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). For example, Meta plans to invest between 66 and 72 billion dollars in 2025 for the development of ‘superintelligent AI’ [1]. Microsoft reported a 40% increase in revenue from cloud services compared to the previous year [1]. Google’s AI model Gemini is integrated into various services and attracts approximately two billion monthly users [1]. These investments are resulting in faster development of new AI applications, including systems that can be used to generate and spread fake news [1].
Spread of Fake News by AI
The rapid development of AI has led to new applications that can be used to generate and spread fake news. One example is the situation where the AI chatbot Grok, developed by Elon Musk, incorrectly identified a photo. The French eco-socialist Member of Parliament, Aymeric Caron, shared a photo of a child in Gaza suffering from hunger. Grok misidentified this photo as an image of a child in Yemen from 2018 [2]. Caron accused Grok of being a ‘dangerous instrument of disinformation’ and emphasised the importance of truth-finding in social media debates [2].
Combating Fake News with AI
To address the problem of fake news, tech companies and researchers are developing new methods to detect and combat it. A study introduces an interpretable browser extension that uses Logistic Regression and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) for real-time fake news detection. This extension, developed for Google Chrome, helps users identify textual content that contributes to predictions, thereby improving trust and media literacy [3]. A pilot study showed that the tool can enhance the credibility of news stories and positively influence the overall user experience [3].
Implications for Media Literacy and Democracy
The spread of fake news by AI has serious implications for media literacy and democracy. Russian disinformation groups, such as Storm-1516, use AI to disseminate fake news on an industrial scale. They steal the identities of real journalists to support their propaganda campaigns, leading to an erosion of trust in Western democracies [4]. French journalist Audrey Parmentier took legal action against a fabricated news story published under her name, which claimed that a non-existent surgeon, François Faivre, committed suicide after exposing gender reassignment surgeries performed on Brigitte Macron [4].
Practical Tips for Readers to Recognise Fake News
To combat the spread of fake news, it is crucial that readers are well-informed and can think critically. Here are some practical tips for readers to recognise fake news:
- Check Sources: Always verify the source of a news story. Reliable news organisations have a reputation for being truthful.
- Consult Multiple Sources: Compare information from different reliable sources to get a balanced view.
- Use Fact-Checking Websites: Websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and Politifact can help verify the accuracy of information.
- Analyse Text and Images: Look for illogical or unlikely details in texts and images. Use tools like Google Reverse Image Search to validate images.
- Critical Thinking: Ask yourself if the news story is logical and coherent. Is the story sensational or does it seem too much like propaganda?
By following these steps, readers can be better equipped to combat the spread of fake news and contribute to an informed and trustworthy information space [GPT].