How AI disinformation is reshaping our reality | Myriam Francois | TEDxCambridge University

Dr. Myriam François examines how highly convincing AI-generated disinformation is changing the way people distinguish fact from fiction. She links this to growing pressure on journalism and on the institutions that verify and communicate facts. The talk also considers how a small number of technology companies and personalised algorithms shape what people see and believe. The speech raises the question of what happens when societies no longer share a common baseline of facts. It argues that protecting the information ecosystem is a broader responsibility shared by journalists, technology companies and the public. The talk was given at TEDxCambridge University, an independently organised TEDx event.

• Rise of convincing AI-generated disinformation
• Pressures on journalism and fact-verifying institutions
• Role of tech companies and personalised algorithms in shaping information
• Why a shared baseline of facts matters for democracy

We are reaching a point where distinguishing fact from fiction is becoming increasingly difficult. Dr. Myriam François argues that the rise of highly convincing AI-generated disinformation is unfolding alongside growing pressures on journalism and the institutions responsible for verifying and communicating facts. As journalists face increasing threats and a small number of technology companies play a greater role in shaping how information is distributed, personalised algorithms can use our digital behaviour to influence what we see, believe, and engage with. This raises an important question: what happens when societies can no longer agree on a shared baseline of facts? Without that common foundation, independent thought, public trust, and democratic participation can become increasingly fragile. Protecting the integrity of our information ecosystem is therefore not simply a challenge for journalists or technology companies, but a broader responsibility for all of us. Dr. François is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and writer, and an alumna of Newnham College Cambridge, as well as Georgetown and Oxford University where she completed her PhD in 2017. She’s a former presenter of The Stream on Al jazeera and currently presents her own show The Tea on YouTube. She has worked extensively across the BBC, Channel 4, and other international outlets. Her directorial debut documentary Finding Alaa as Bafta and Academy award Longlisted and has received multiple international awards, and her writing has appeared in publications including The Guardian, TIME, and Foreign Policy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx