Keywords

Fake news, artificial intelligence, public perception, media, and deception

Abstract

Our research delves into two critical areas: fake news and artificial intelligence (AI). Historically, fake news predates the printing press, but its resurgence after the 2016 US Presidential Election garnered mass attention. Studies indicate its potency, with one fake article found to be as influential as a campaign ad (Allcott & Gentzkow, 2017). However, partisan media likely skews its impact on public perception.

Conversely, AI's integration has surged in recent years, sparking both excitement and concern among the public (Pew Research Center, 2022). Its ability to generate hyper-specific images, demonstrated by DALL·E 2 and Midjourney, poses challenges in distinguishing real from fake content (Midjourney, 2024). This capability underscores the potential for AI to fabricate convincingly realistic fake news imagery.

Our research aims to uncover predictors at the intersection of fake news and AI. Building on previous studies, we focus on age's role in deception within the fake news context, employing the Changes in Integration for Social Decisions in Aging (CISDA) model (Frazier et al., 2019). Specifically, we utilize a modified version, adept at detecting fake news headlines (Pehlivanoglu, 2022). Our investigation centers on analytical reasoning, age effects, news consumption frequency, and news content, seeking to fill gaps in understanding how AI facilitates deception in the fake news landscape.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Roque, Nelson

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Thesis Discipline

Human Factors

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright