Our AI Crisis Is Just a Symptom. It's Time to Fix the Root Cause

Melanie Trecek-King argues that the current panic over generative AI is largely a symptom of a much older media literacy crisis, not the root problem itself. She calls for replacing outdated tools like the CRAAP Test and blanket restrictions on information with stronger habits of lateral reading, calibrated skepticism, and understanding how algorithm-driven feeds blur the lines between reliable information, misinformation, advertising, and entertainment. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/08/our-ai-crisis-is-just-a-symptom-its-time-to-fix-the-root-cause/ About the Author: Melanie Trecek-King is an associate professor of biology at Massasoit Community College. Her website is www.ThinkingIsPower.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/