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So when AI is used in ways that are illegal, you can face consequences.

But when AI is used to create like an ambiance online, you could say, oh yeah, Donald Trump is not a Steelers linebacker, but you feel something.

And you can't fact check a feeling.

Yeah. you feel something. And you can't fact check a feeling. Welcome to Geekwire. I'm Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop. This week, with just days to go

before the November 5th election, we take a fresh look at AI, social media, and some surprising trends in the spread of fake content

and misinformation with Danielle Lee Thompson, a research manager at the Center for an

informed public at the University of Washington and Seattle. Here's guest host, Ross Reynolds.

On October 23rd, the New York Times reported, smears, lies, and dirty tricks,

what we call disinformation today, have long been a feature of American presidential election

campaigns. Before this year's vote, however, the torrent of half-truths, lies and fabrications,

both foreign and homegrown, has exceeded

anything that came before, according to officials and researchers who document disinformation, end

quote. Well, one of those researchers is with us today. Danielle Lee Thompson is the research

manager for election rumors at the center for an Informed Public at the University of Washington.

Thank you so much for joining us today. Thanks for having me. Many people may not be familiar

with the work of the Center for an informed public. Maybe you just talk a little bit about

that. It's located at the University of Washington. What are its goals? How does it try to achieve

those goals? How does it measure its success?

So the Center for an Informed Public was founded a couple years ago by professors in information studies, in law, in Science of Science Studies, to try to inform the public about

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