Disinformation is evolving—and AI is helping it spread. Shira Lazar sits down with Wired’s David Gilbert to unpack how fake news, AI-generated chaos, and collapsing trust online are reshaping journalism, politics, and public perception.

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This week on The AI Download, Shira Lazar is joined by David Gilbert, senior reporter at Wired, for an eye-opening conversation on the alarming intersection of AI, misinformation, and modern media. From LA protest hoaxes to viral AI slop on social platforms, Gilbert breaks down how today’s information ecosystem is under siege—and how AI tools like Grok may be doing more harm than good.

As trust in institutions crumbles, this episode explores the urgency of media literacy, why platforms are failing, and how journalists and citizens alike can fight back against a rising tide of digital deception.

They dive into:
🔹 Why AI is amplifying chaos during protests and breaking news events
🔹 The dangerous shift from misinformation to disinformation at scale
🔹 What went wrong with Grok’s fact-checking during the LA protests
🔹 How social media’s algorithmic changes are boosting bad actors
🔹 The evolving role of journalists in an era of AI-powered falsehoods
🔹 What everyday users can do before they hit share

Plus: Why younger generations may be the last line of defense—and how the loss of trust in both tech and each other is shaping a dangerously unstable information future.

🎙 Guest: David Gilbert
Senior Writer, Wired
Follow his reporting: wired.com
Connect on X: @daithaigilbert

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Credits

This episode of The AI Download was hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive Producer Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Musso Media. © 2025 Shira Lazar. All rights reserved.