False and Inaccurate Information on the Web
Have you ever paid attention to the number of pages there are when you scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page of search results? Some search engines even make the first blob of words on the screen when you search something “1-20 of 879,000 results,” for example. In a day and age where we have so much information literally at our fingertips, it can be hard to decipher what is correct and true to what isn’t among these hundreds of thousands of search results, especially when its easier than ever for anyone to upload to the web. Without any way to see who is posting what (a good bit of the time), we have no way of knowing or seeing who is behind a screen, knowing their intentions, or any certifications or qualifications they may or may not have. This is why your parents said, “don’t believe everything you see on the internet!” The American Psychological Association does a well job at further breaking down misinformation and disinformation in this article.
AI and Misinformation and Disinformation on the Web
It’s 2022 and your roommate just asked you if you’ve heard about that new artificial intelligence chat bot, “ChatGPT.” You look quite literally flabbergasted as she describes what it is and even pulls it up to show you on her phone in two seconds. Conveniently enough, you happen to be in the middle of writing a paper for class. You can’t wait to use this new tool to help you. You give it your paper prompt, ask it for some talking points, and hit enter. You’re surprised to see that most of what it gave you was…less than stellar.
It’s crucial to remember that AI tools do not “think” or have any real understanding (or however Professor Cartland said it), they generate responses by mimicking patterns from their training data. When a text AI like the ChatGPT I was using receives a prompt, it produces responses based on patterns found in similar texts, such as articles and web searches. While these responses may appear accurate, they can sometimes be false, outdated, or nonsensical, a phenomenon known as “hallucinations,” like the result it gave me that day. Good thing I fact checked!
Copilot Interaction
Me:
i have an assignment, heres the prompt: Write a post reflecting on the question "What is real on the internet?" Include a link to at least one online source that supports your take. Don't use any sources I shared or assigned. Use at least two sections divided by headings One section should talk about some reasons behind false and inaccurate information on the web the title i came up with for the assignment is "why the internet is two faced." could you give me some more title options please?
Copilot: Sure, I’d be happy to help! Here are some alternative title options for your assignment:
“The Dual Nature of the Internet: Truth and Deception”
“Navigating Reality in the Digital Age”
“The Internet’s Double-Edged Sword: Fact vs. Fiction”
“Unmasking the Internet: What’s Real and What’s Not”
“The Internet’s Mirage: Distinguishing Truth from Lies”
“Digital Realities: The Battle Between Fact and Fabrication”
“The Internet’s Illusions: Understanding Online Authenticity”
“Truth in the Web: Separating Reality from Deception”
“The Internet’s Facade: Exploring Online Truths and Falsehoods”
“Virtual Veracity: The Quest for Truth on the Internet”
Feel free to choose any of these or mix and match elements to create a title that best fits your vision for the assignment! If you need further assistance with the content, just let me know.
Me: these are so good! thank you so much
Copilot: You’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked them. If you need any more help with your assignment or anything else, feel free to ask. Good luck with your writing! 😊
Why this title?
I chose this title versus the other ones because 1) I thought Cartland might chuckle at internet with a capital “I” and 2) because I thought if the language was eye catching to me, it would be eye catching to other people. In addition, some of the other options were too jargony. Almost like they were trying too hard. I think my title falls in the middle, leaning left on the spectrum of truth and accuracy in communication.
