Authenticity > Approach
FM (Friday Morning) Reflection #14
After moving to Pennsylvania from Ohio six years ago, I realized there was a lot that I didn’t know about my new home state, including its history, regional cultures, government, and laws. I remembered how learning Ohio’s state history in school helped me connect to and appreciate where I lived at that time, and ordered a few textbooks—the kind you’d find in a junior high school classroom—so that I could start to educate myself about the Commonwealth.
As I started reading, I became more curious and began to wonder:
Why are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh so different?
Because of their location, how they developed over time, the industries and economies of each, and for other historical and cultural reasons. (more)Why are there so many (203!) representatives in the Pennsylvania House?
The number is set in the Constitution of the Commonwealth to assure that the House represents the diversity of the people. (more)How is a borough in Pennsylvania different than in New York?
How much time do you have?!? (lots more)
Finally, last Sunday, I made a day trip to Harrisburg to visit and tour the state capitol building, which was spectacular, especially the intricate murals, grandeur of the rotunda, and gilded ornamentation of the House and Senate chambers, which integrated both the state's rich history and architectural beauty.
With the knowledge I had gained from my studies, the experience of my visit was much more meaningful. My learning gave me a deeper appreciation for the spaces I visited, and I now feel more connected to my new state and proud to be part of its citizenry. Of course, I took my camera to capture a few memories and have been appreciating them all week long.
Over the course of this week, as I reflected on my trip to Harrisburg and the authenticity of that experience, I also found myself thinking about how authenticity applies to digital and AI-generated content.
Growing concerns around whether content is AI-generated or human-made are leading to discussions about watermarking as a solution, which is understandable. Whenever there’s a significant technological leap, there’s an initial period where the distinction between formats feels crucial. But over time, as the new technology becomes integrated into our lives, those distinctions start to fade.
The real issue we need to confront with content is how to establish authenticity. I believe watermarking will be much more useful if it helps us to authenticate the content itself—whether it reflects the creator’s genuine thoughts, intent, and purpose—rather than focusing on the approach and tools used to produce it.
With the textbooks that I have been studying, it isn’t the format (printed, digital, or audio) that has mattered to me. I haven’t thought for a single moment about whether the text was drafted on a word processor or typewriter. What matters is that the information is reliable and provides an accurate understanding of Pennsylvania's history, culture, and government.
Another example of this is illustrated with a birth certificate. The original is securely housed in a government office, and while we don’t receive the original when we request a copy, we trust the copy because it’s issued and authenticated by a trusted source. We have confidence in the system that certifies it, and that the raised seal or other marker indicates the document is genuine.
Watermarking can serve as a digital equivalent of the raised seal or certification mark on a birth certificate. It can ensure that, whether or not the content contains AI-generated elements, the source is verifiable and from a reputable news organization, educational institution, or trusted brand.
Perhaps this is a practical application for blockchain technology, which would verify the origins and ensure the chain of custody for digital content.
By developing markers of authenticity to ensure the trustworthiness of content—rather than to identify the mechanical tools that were used to create it—we can shift the focus to prioritizing trust in the voice behind the content.
We could also use trust markers to build filters that better sort out (read: block) content that is suspicious. And I believe this would help us evolve the conversation from a fear of AI to how to best utilize the technology for good.
This will become more important as the lines between AI and human-created content continue to blur.
While this sorts itself out, what can you do in the meantime?
These small steps can help all of us navigate the evolving digital landscape more wisely:
Build AI Literacy: Learn the basics of AI and how it affects the media and content you consume. This will help you evaluate information and spot unreliable or manipulated content.
Choose Trusted Sources: Prioritize content from sources known for their credibility. Before you engage, ask yourself: Does this source have a track record of providing reliable, verified information?
Advocate for technologies like watermarking and blockchain that help verify the authenticity of digital content. For example, projects like C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) are working on standards to ensure the traceability of digital media.
Support policies and brands that push for better content verification and adopt trust markers to validate the authenticity of content presented to you.
Start Conversations: Discuss the importance of authenticity in media with friends and family. Raising awareness strengthens everyone’s ability to critically evaluate content and the trustworthiness of its source.
Photo Bonus
Looking up into the interior of the Pennsylvania Statehouse Rotunda. According to the Statehouse website, the dome reaches 272-feet, weighs 52 million-pounds, and was inspired by Michelangelo's design for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Captured on Polaroid 600 Green film with my MiNT SLR670 (modded Polaroid SX-70) camera.