From Fake to Truth: How Journalists Verify News in the Age of AI

Digital disinformation and AI-generated content are transforming the way we perceive and evaluate information. In cooperation with HKA – Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and supported by the ZKM as an educational partner, the symposium “The Fabrication of Truth” provides a platform to highlight current challenges and explore new perspectives.

The symposium is part of the project “Reality Check: Fake or Fact in the Age of Generative AI”, initiated by HKA’s Institute for Intelligent Interaction and Immersive Experience and funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Its aim is to raise awareness—especially among young people—of the challenges posed by fake news, deepfakes, and digital manipulation.

With generative AI, it is possible to quickly and easily create high-quality fakes—whether texts, photos, videos, or voice imitations—without any specialized software knowledge. This poses significant challenges for journalists, especially given the sheer volume of misinformation. However, there is also a wide range of tools—both AI-based and otherwise—that can assist them in verification.