Introduction: The Epistemology of Misinformation—How Do We Know What We Know

The epidemic of misinformation has been identified as one of the most significant concerns in contemporary society. Misinformation is on the rise, and it seems that artificial intelligence (AI) is the primary conduit for it. AI is a double-edged sword for misinformation that can do good—but also worsen misinformation. Advances in machine learning and algorithms have brought to life a highly effective method for conveying misinformation. In the midst of a “misinfodemic,” the psychology of misinformation—existing bias, mental shortcuts, illusions, and confusions that encourage us to believe information that is not true—can tell us what misinformation is and how to prevent its detrimental effects, why we are vulnerable to misinformation, what affects whether corrections work, and what we have to do to combat misinformation. Misinformation concerns and potential methods for mitigating those threats can be discussed in terms of cognitive processes connected to perception, understanding, heuristics, sensemaking, cognitive processing, and decision-making.