Is what you’re reading real? Can you trust that voice note, image or viral video?
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape how information is created and shared globally, Saint Lucians, like the rest of the world, are being forced to confront an unsettling question: ‘What’s real, and what’s not?’
In an era where deepfakes, voice clones and synthetic news can spread with a few clicks, separating fact from fiction is becoming more difficult. According to digital strategist and AI educator Jim Joseph, the consequences can be dire in small, developing societies like Saint Lucia.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate what is real, authentic content — whether it is visual, whether it is written or spoken,” Joseph recently told St. Lucia Times.
“The rise of things like deepfakes and generative AI has blurred the lines between what is real and what is fake.”
In recent months, doctored videos and AI-generated audio clips of political figures, including Saint Lucian politicians, have circulated online, drawing public attention and sometimes outright confusion. Joseph warns that such tools, when used irresponsibly or maliciously, could severely undermine trust in information, especially among audiences who may not yet fully understand the technology.
“It has the power to influence persons who are not aware of the technology and are not able to spot what is real, what is fake because it’s gotten so good,” he said.
“Separating truth from untruth is becoming extremely difficult. And therein lies the need for regulation, the need for policy that speaks to safe and responsible use of AI.”
Even global tech leaders are raising red flags. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“I never took the dead internet theory that seriously but it seems like there are really a lot of LLM-run Twitter accounts now.”
His post echoed growing concerns about what’s been dubbed the Dead Internet Theory. This is the fear that real, human-generated content is being drowned out by a flood of AI output, leaving users trapped in a feedback loop of manufactured content.
In Saint Lucia, many social media users have begun to notice strange patterns, particularly in the comments sections of politically charged posts. Accounts with no personal connections, vague names, or generic profile images are sometimes seen spreading similar messages or misinformation, a phenomenon often associated with bots.
According to a Pew Research Centre study, roughly two-thirds of Americans (66%) have heard of social media bots, and a majority (80%) believe these bots are being used for malicious purposes, such as spreading fake news or inflaming political tensions. Though Saint Lucia lacks similar localised data, the signs of bot activity are increasingly difficult to ignore.
Joseph believes public awareness and education must be part of the national response.
“It’s time for us to really educate ourselves and then make sure we have balanced views on almost everything,” he said.
“Conversations like the one you and I are having are critical. Policymakers and the average person alike need to understand the implications, both positive and negative, of this technology.”
He added that Saint Lucia, like other nations, should move toward crafting digital policies and frameworks to guide the responsible use of AI. He referenced efforts by the European Union, which has introduced strict regulations that require tech companies to disclose how their AI tools are trained and used.
“There are steps being taken in the right direction. We’ve had several initiatives and meetings at the regional level looking at safe and responsible implementation of AI,” he said.
Joseph, who conducts training sessions for both private and public sector workers, says one of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it’s only a concern for tech experts. But in reality, he argues, it touches every aspect of life — from business and education to politics and crime.
“This is not an IT thing. This is something that everybody needs to understand,” he said.
“It affects every single aspect of business activity, every aspect of life, of social interaction, of communication, financial transactions, education… everything.”
He pointed out that even the traditional role of teachers is shifting, now that students can access powerful AI tools to assist with research, homework, and content creation.
“They’re no longer the gatekeepers to education,” Joseph said.
“Teachers now need to see themselves as monitors and evaluators of what the student is learning, not just the source of knowledge.”
While the opportunities AI offers are immense, the threats are equally significant if left unchecked. And in a world where anyone with a smartphone can create something that looks and sounds convincingly real, vigilance, transparency and education will be key in protecting truth itself.
