If we don’t know how to filter information, a search can give us lots of it and so few answers at the same time. But how do you filter information effectively these days? It’s harder literally every day. Which, by the way, is why we’re talking about it so much.
Don’t rely on an AI summary. Yes, it may cite sources, but that doesn’t mean it has generated an accurate answer. The other day, I lifted some 2 cu ft bags of soil onto a wagon to move them. Later, I was curious how much weight I lifted. I searched for the weight of 2 cu ft of garden soil knowing that it varies depending on the amount of moisture in the soil, etc.
Citing two sources that looked legitimate on the face, AI told me the bags weigh 150 lbs each. Um, I may not be particularly weak, but I can’t heft 150 pounds onto a wagon.
A day or two after that, AI generated a list of recent activities for someone I know is dead, has been dead for years, and so far as I know, has not been resurrected. If you’re saying duh, I know not to believe AI, are you certain you know the difference?
Accept that you may not be able to spot fraudulent information simply by the manner in which it’s written, displayed, or broadcast. A friend assumed he was hearing content that was generated by AI because it pronounced something differently than a human. It was simply a machine voice reading content generated by a human. In other words, his understanding of indicators of generative AI weren’t indicative of that at all.
Writers constantly tell me they can always spot AI writing, but I recently read a text comparison in which the difference was not clear at all. That may be because AI learns exponentially. Last month, or last week you may have been able to tell the difference. This week, it may sound just like your mother.
Some AI generated content may be accurate. Some human generated content is fraudulent or reaches inaccurate conclusions. We have to develop a vetting process that’s more nuanced than assuming we can always spot AI and should always ignore it.
Go to real websites. If something is pushed to you through an ad or social media, go to the website yourself rather than using a link from an ad. It’s not bad to keep a list of the actual http:// address for sites you use regularly. The easiest way to do this is to bookmark them in your browser.
Check with human experts. I don’t mean experts like your sister or best friend (unless they are experts). Something some platforms have given us is access to the top researchers and thinkers in the world. What are they saying as opposed to what you’re seeing on TikTok or Reels?
For history, choose historians. For medical and health concerns, look at a combination of research, best practices, and science facts from degreed professionals – M.D., Ph.D., PharmD, DCN, MPH, PsyD and others. Explore who follows each one, what kind of reputation they have among their colleagues.
Avoid the influence of influencers. I’m not saying all influencers are wrong. They may not be. It’s fine to gather information from them and make lists of resources, books, or products. Just understand there may be a financial incentive for them to promote certain things.
Read real books. There’s a world of nonfiction with valuable information. Take your list of vetted professionals and read their books. You’ll get a lot more depth than online summaries.
Use your brain. Some things that are solid scientifically may not make sense to you, but it doesn’t hurt to approach claims with skepticism keeping in mind that political influence of any sort or research dollars from sources that will directly benefit create bias.
Often, we filter information to give us the fastest, easiest sounding solution. There’s nothing wrong with that per se. But it’s important to remember there are no shortcuts without side effects. A side effect might be that you have to give up something to afford the convenient solution. The side effect could mean you eat prepackaged food that isn’t as healthy as fresh.
When it’s time to review your current habits, remember you may find a ton of information but still get so few answers. Unfortunately, that’s the moment we live in, but we’re here to help!