AI and Critical Thinking: Questioning What You See Online
An assembly developing students' ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content and think carefully about what they encounter online.
Overview
Artificial intelligence can now generate realistic text, images, audio, and video. This assembly builds on AI awareness to develop the critical thinking skills students need to navigate an online world where content may not be what it seems. It encourages healthy scepticism without cynicism and gives students practical tools for evaluating what they encounter.
Talking Points
AI can now create text that sounds human, images that look real, and videos that are almost impossible to tell from genuine footage. Not everything you see online is real, even if it looks convincing.
Before you react to or share something you see online, pause and ask: who created this, why, and how do I know it is real? These three questions can save you from spreading misinformation.
AI-generated content is being used to create fake news, fake celebrity endorsements, and even fake evidence. Checking multiple trusted sources before believing a claim is more important than ever.
If something online provokes a strong emotional reaction — shock, anger, outrage — that is often a signal to slow down and check before sharing. Content designed to make you react quickly is often the least trustworthy.
Being critical does not mean being cynical. It means caring enough about the truth to take a moment to verify what you see before passing it on.
Key Message
In a world where AI can create convincing fakes, your best protection is your own critical thinking. Pause, question, and verify before you believe or share.
Follow-Up Activity
Students are shown a set of five pieces of online content — some real, some AI-generated — and work in groups to identify which are genuine and which are fake, explaining their reasoning. The class discusses which clues helped them and which fakes were hardest to spot.
This content is designed to support professionals in their safeguarding role. It does not replace your organisation's safeguarding policies or training requirements.
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-29