It’s About Facts, Not Foolery

In the digital age we live in, where information and disinformation travel at the same speed, one unfortunate trend continues to grow: the reckless labeling of every powerful or uncomfortable video as “AI-generated.” As someone who’s been active in media and commentary for a significant amount of time, I feel compelled to address this ignorance, because it is not only lazy—it is dangerous.

The word “AI” has become a convenient excuse for many who are unwilling to deal with the truth. Every time a video speaks hard truths, sheds light on injustice, or challenges the status quo, you suddenly hear it: “Oh, this is AI-generated.” Really? Is that all it takes to dismiss facts now? A mouth that moves, a blinking eye, and suddenly the truth doesn’t matter?

Let me be clear: if the subject being discussed in the video actually happened, then that video is rooted in reality, not fiction. Whether or not the speaker’s voice was generated, or whether the lighting looks like it came from a studio, does not change the underlying fact of the matter. AI or not, a fact remains a fact.

For instance, when we talk about colonial legacies in Africa, the sabotage of sovereign economies, or the corruption of global systems that claim to be just but are actually predatory—these are not tales pulled from the imagination of a machine. They are historically documented realities, lived experiences, and ongoing struggles. So what do we call videos that bring those truths to life? “AI”? Or should we simply call them what they are—powerful storytelling tools anchored in truth?

Let me also address a technical misconception: people think any video with smooth motion, clear voice, or a studio-like setup must be artificial. Please. We’ve had high-quality production long before ChatGPT or image generators entered the public lexicon. Some of us have invested years into refining our presentation, our research, and our delivery. Not everything polished is fake. Not everything sharp is synthetic.

This rising culture of dismissing uncomfortable truths with the word “AI” is a new form of intellectual laziness. It’s the modern version of putting your hands over your ears and shouting “fake news” whenever you’re confronted by inconvenient reality. It doesn’t take intelligence to call a video AI. It takes intelligence to engage with the content of the message, cross-check the facts, and understand the bigger picture.

Moreover, not every moving mouth or expressive face is some AI sorcery. It’s not about whether the eyes blink or the lips move in perfect sync. We’ve gotten so caught up in the surface that we’re forgetting the substance. The core of any video—AI or not—is its message. And if that message is backed by truth, it deserves your respect, not your ridicule.

So before you join the trend and lazily comment “this is AI,” pause for a moment. Ask yourself: Did this event happen? Is the information presented accurate? Have I done my own verification before dismissing it? Because if your only response to a well-produced truth is to scream “AI” without evidence, then perhaps it’s not the technology that’s to blame—it’s the erosion of your own critical thinking.

In this era of digital complexity, facts must remain sacred. Whether presented by a person in flesh and blood or delivered through a synthetic voice or video, truth doesn’t change. We must not allow tools to become distractions, and we must not let class blind us to substance.

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