Community and Connection in an AI World: Claire Wardle on Fighting MisInformation

In this episode of Visible Voices, Dr. Resa E. Lewiss is in conversation with Dr. Claire Wardle, a leading expert on misinformation, media literacy, and public trust in science. Claire is an associate professor at Cornell and co-founder of the Information Futures Lab at Brown University's School of Public Health. She shares her decades of experience working across academia, international news organizations like the BBC, and the United Nations and in community non profits. The conversation explores the intersection of misinformation and public health, from vaccine hesitancy to the rise of AI chatbots and their impact on mental health. Dr. Wardle emphasizes that trust is local and everyone has an emotional relationship to information, explaining why human-centered design and community engagement are essential to combating false narratives. She offers practical advice for healthcare professionals considering social media storytelling, discusses the importance of media literacy education, and reveals what keeps her up at night about the absence of regulatory oversight in the age of personalized AI. The discussion highlights how communities, authentic storytelling, and cross-sector collaboration can help transform the internet into a place of trust while protecting public health and democracy. Follow Claire's work via her website and LinkedIn. If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on Apple or a 👍🏻 on YouTube. Subscribe via the Website. Forward to a friend today!