The role of generative artificial intelligence in the post-truth era: A field study

With the impact of the digital age, the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies has led to a fundamental transformation in content production processes, enabling the creation of multimodal media elements—such as text, images, and audio—that are nearly indistinguishable from those produced by humans. This development deeply affects individuals' perceptions of reality, truth, and credibility, thereby increasing information pollution and visual manipulation. In this context, the aim of this study is to reveal the effects of content generated by generative artificial intelligence applications on individuals' perception of reality and to evaluate the role of such content in the post-truth era. The study employs a quantitative research method, specifically a survey technique, and gathers data from a sample group of university students at to measure their perceptions regarding AI-generated content. The findings indicate that due to the high degree of realism in AI-generated visual, textual, and audio content, individuals have difficulty distinguishing between fake and real content, which in turn contributes to the devaluation of truth. This study highlights the transformative impact of AI-generated content on media and social communication, while also offering solution-oriented suggestions related to conscious technology use and media literacy.