In the Age of Artificial Intelligence .. When Truth Becomes a Digital Battle.

Writer: Mohamed Bassam Joudah

Modern warfare is no longer fought solely on the battlefield. Alongside bombing, destruction, and displacement, another battle is taking place on the screens of phones... the battle of images, videos, and information, and who has the ability to reach the audience and determine what they believe.

In the war on Gaza, digital platforms have become a primary source for millions of people around the world to follow the events. At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence tools has made the production of images, videos, sounds, and synthetic texts easier, which presents a new challenge for journalists: how to prove that what they see is real before conveying it to the public?

UNESCO indicates that generative artificial intelligence has expanded the capacity to produce content, but at the same time, it has increased the risks of rapidly spreading synthetic or altered materials, along with the accompanying threat to the integrity of information. (unesco.org⁠)

When the image is no longer a sufficient proof.

For many years, images or videos have been among the strongest evidence in journalism.

However, today, having an image or video is no longer sufficient to prove the authenticity of what it depicts.

An image may be old, taken in a different location, or reused in a different context, and AI tools have become capable of producing highly realistic content.

This does not mean that every circulating image or video is fake, but it does mean that verification has become an essential part of journalism itself.

UNESCO points out that AI tools can assist journalists in researching, verifying, and analyzing data, but at the same time, they pose risks related to misinformation, bias, and fake content, including deepfake technologies. (unesco.org⁠)

The journalist faces a new test.

In a war environment, verification becomes more difficult.

The video may reach the journalist hours after it was filmed, the source may be unknown, and the accompanying information may be inaccurate. In light of the rapid spread of content on social media platforms, a false piece of information can reach millions of people before the journalist has the opportunity to verify it.

Therefore, the traditional journalistic question is no longer: What happened?

Instead, there is another question that precedes it

How do we know that what we think happened actually happened?

Here, the importance of digital verification tools emerges, such as reverse image searches, analyzing metadata when available, comparing images with archives, geolocation, comparing independent sources, and utilizing satellite images when necessary.

Artificial Intelligence .. A tool, not a source

Artificial intelligence can assist journalists in translating texts, summarizing documents, analyzing large amounts of data, discovering patterns in information, and even helping to verify some digital materials.

However, using these tools does not mean transferring the responsibility of verification to them.

Artificial intelligence itself can make mistakes or produce incorrect information, and therefore, UNESCO's principles regarding journalism and artificial intelligence emphasize the necessity of subjecting AI-supported content to the same verification and accuracy standards that any other journalistic content is subjected to. (articles.unesco.org⁠)

Thus, the journalist remains responsible for questioning, verifying, comparing, and attributing information to its sources.

Gaza... a highly sensitive media environment.

This issue gains additional importance in Gaza, where journalists operate under extremely difficult conditions.

In September 2025, UNESCO stated that it is working with partners in Gaza to enhance journalists' capacities in the areas of digital safety, verification, field journalism, and dealing with the digital environment. The training programs also included digital journalism and audio-visual content production. (unesco.org⁠)

This reflects a shift in the concept of journalistic safety itself.

The protection of journalists is no longer limited to field danger, but also includes the protection of their accounts, data, and sources, as well as dealing with attempts at misinformation, hacking, identity theft, and fake content.

The Battle for Truth

In wars, information is not merely a means to describe what is happening; it can become part of the conflict itself.

Therefore, journalism in the age of artificial intelligence faces a dual task: to convey events quickly while ensuring that speed does not come at the expense of truth.

The biggest challenge for journalists in the coming years may not be accessing information, but distinguishing reliable information from the vast amount of content that can be produced, modified, and published automatically.

UNESCO indicates that the future of journalism in the digital environment needs to combine technological innovation with professional standards, while maintaining verification, transparency, and accountability. (unesco.org⁠)

In Gaza, where the image has become an essential part of documenting the war, this responsibility becomes more sensitive.

A journalist who publishes inaccurate information may contribute, even unintentionally, to misleading the public.

On the other hand, a journalist who verifies, compares, reveals the source of the image, and explains the limits of what is known and what is not known, is not just reporting news, but performing a fundamental role in protecting the truth.

In an era where machines can create a convincing image in seconds, the value of the journalist lies in their ability to ask the question that the algorithm cannot answer alone .. Is this real?