AI for Detecting Misinformation: A Discussion on the Case of COVID-19 in Indonesia

Santi Indra Astuti, Dyaning Pangestika

Abstract


The advent of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) was viewed as a threat to the information ecosystem due to generative AI's ability to create 'stories' that might easily be twisted as misinformation. Generative AI was alleged to be a high-risk tool for fact checkers, journalists, public officials, and others responsible for verifying and sharing correct information, increasing the possibility of widespread misinformation and disinformation in the society. However, as technology evolves, so does humans' comprehension of the new machines. There are many benefits that could be explored from generative AI, as the platform offers a plethora of potential applications. To explore the possibility, this research investigates the potential of AI to detect health misinformation. Focusing on COVID-19 misinformation in Indonesia, the study employing Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) to examine the result of AI machines, namely Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini, by using specific prompts in two languages (Indonesia and English) which applied in two different times (August and September 2024). This study concludes that the aforementioned AI platforms are capable of detecting misinformation while providing supporting claims to substantiate their reasoning. However, while generative AI has the potential to be utilized as a tool for detecting misinformation, further improvements should be made to refine the output. Furthermore, due to the nature of generative AI learning through deep learning, users who wish to utilize generative AI platforms to debunk hoaxes have to perform additional research to complement their findings.


Keywords


artificial intelligence, pandemic, verifying, health issues, information

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References


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