Season 3Episode 8

Trust, By Proxy: AI as mediator of truth, expertise, and credibility

27 March 2026 · 00:07:58

How much of what you consumed today was influenced by AINot fully created. Just shaped.The summary you read.The answer you accepted.The image you paused on.The tone that made something feel credible.In this episode of Decoded: AI for Everyone, we explore how AI is quietly changing the way we trust information. As AI systems summarise, explain, and generate content, we are shifting from trusting identifiable sources to trusting outputs that feel clear, confident, and sufficient.This episode examines the rise of “plausible truth”, information that is mostly accurate but subtly incomplete, reframed, or lacking context. Not obvious fakes, but content that sounds right and therefore goes unquestioned.We also explore how this dynamic can scale, particularly in times of uncertainty, where narratives can be shaped, amplified, and reinforced in ways that influence what people believe without being immediately obvious.Most importantly, we bring it back to everyday behaviour:how AI is influencing what we read, watch, and learnwhy trust is shifting from source to outputhow to recognise when something feels right but may not be completesimple ways to stay grounded and verify what mattersBecause trust hasn’t disappeared.It’s just being delegated differently.RESOURCESPrompt engineering guides and practical AI tools:https://PromptEngineeringCookbook.comWriting on AI, trust, and governance:https://joelrleslie.substack.comStrategic AI insights and advisory work:https://strategen-ai.comLearn more about Joel Leslie and the podcast:https://joelleslie.com.auDecoded: AI for Everyone is a non-technical podcast exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, creativity, decision-making, and trust, and how we can engage with these systems thoughtfully and intentionally.

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