Fake news detection just got a harder test, and the cartels just raised the bar. You're watching Mexico unravel in your feed and the images are terrifying: skylines on fire, planes on tarmacs reduced to ash, buildings exploding. But those planes weren't burning at that airport. Those images were AI-generated by the cartels themselves, seeded deliberately to amplify fear during real violence. You couldn't tell. Almost nobody could.

That's not a personal failure, it's a systemic one. An Ipsos poll of 25,000 people found 90% of Canadians have fallen for fake news, even though only 10% believe they have. Math turns out to be a surprisingly useful filter: when a post claims a million people attended a protest in a small town square, you can run the numbers on whether that crowd is physically possible. University of Washington professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West built a whole framework around exactly this.

This is a calibration problem, not a gullibility problem. The skeptic on the beach dismissing everything was as wrong as the accounts posting AI explosions. Buses burned. Stores were looted. Real fear was real. Finding the middle requires building new habits for reading your feed.

Topics: fake news detection, AI-generated images, cartels Mexico, media manipulation, information literacy

Originally aired on 2026-02-25

Fake news detection just got a harder test, and the cartels just raised the bar. You're watching Mexico unravel in your feed and the images are terrifying: skylines on fire, planes on tarmacs reduced to ash, buildings exploding. But those planes weren't burning at that airport. Those images were AI-generated by the cartels themselves, seeded deliberately to amplify fear during real violence. You couldn't tell. Almost nobody could.
That's not a personal failure, it's a systemic one. An Ipsos poll of 25,000 people found 90% of Canadians have fallen for fake news, even though only 10% believe they have. Math turns out to be a surprisingly useful filter: when a post claims a million people attended a protest in a small town square, you can run the numbers on whether that crowd is physically possible. University of Washington professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West built a whole framework around exactly this.
This is a calibration problem, not a gullibility problem. The skeptic on the beach dismissing everything was as wrong as the accounts posting AI explosions. Buses burned. Stores were looted. Real fear was real. Finding the middle requires building new habits for reading your feed.
Topics: fake news detection, AI-generated images, cartels Mexico, media manipulation, information literacy
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-02-25

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.