In less than a year, we may no longer agree on what’s real. Photos, videos, books, even live conversations – everything can be faked so convincingly that truth itself becomes slippery, according to Ted Gioia.
This isn’t just a technology failure. It’s about what happens when trust – the glue that holds society together – dissolves. Without shared facts, democracy falters, communities splinter, and individuals retreat into skepticism or hostility.
Gioia points to several early warning signs:
- Fake “AI therapists” already harming vulnerable people.
- Schools returning to handwritten exams.
- Companies insisting on in-person job interviews because online signals can’t be trusted.
He predicts six likely human reactions: skepticism, aloofness, silence, indifference, distrust, and hostility. A grim cycle.
Custodians of reality?
So what can be done? Gioia suggests we may need new “custodians of reality” – roles and institutions that validate truth, much like notaries once did. He calls for physical records that can’t be tampered with, resilient archives like the Internet Archive, and even a cultural push from artists and humanists who can help anchor us outside the digital fog.
The warning is clear: the budget for fakery dwarfs the budget for truth. But if the next big wave of innovation restores trust, it may be the most important breakthrough of all, especially for writers and marketers.
By Jeff Domansky, Managing Editor, AI Marketer Directory
8 Top AI Detection Tools
The AI Marketer Directory has more than 60 AI detection tools. Here are eight of our favorites:
AISEO – This writing and SEO tool helps creators optimize content for search engines while improving clarity, tone, and
readability, saving time on both drafting and ranking.
GPTZero – A top-rated, reliable AI detection tool that identifies whether content is human-written or AI-generated, helping marketers and writers maintain credibility and transparency.
Originality.ai – Built for professionals, this content scanner detects AI writing and checks for plagiarism, ensuring published work is both authentic and original.
StealthGPT – A text generator that bypasses AI detection tools, giving marketers and creators flexibility when producing
AI-assisted content without raising red flags.
Winston AI Detector – An easy-to-use AI content detector that helps writers, educators, and publishers quickly verify content
authenticity before publishing or submission.
0GPT – A free and fast AI detection platform that identifies whether text was created by humans or AI, useful for editors
and content teams managing high volumes of work.
AI Checker – A straightforward, free AI content checker that scans text for AI patterns, helping creators and marketers maintain originality in blogs, campaigns, and client work.
AI Content Detector (Leap) – A free, lightweight detection tool from Leap that spots AI-generated writing, allowing businesses and designers to confidently share trustworthy, human-quality content.
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