In Spring of 2025, a reputable media outlet unknowingly published a summer reading list that included book titles fabricated by an AI. Not long before, NewsGuard uncovered over 1,200 websites pushing AI-generated news articles with no human editorial oversight. And in an even more sobering development, researchers found evidence of state-backed misinformation campaigns using generative AI to “train” large language models with biased content—essentially trying to manipulate the future of chatbot answers.

These aren’t one-off stories. This is the new reality businesses are operating in.

AI is not just a productivity tool; it’s a powerful content engine. And in the wrong hands—or unchecked systems—it can become a disinformation machine. The consequences for businesses? Brand trust, operational decisions, and employee alignment are all on the line.

So, what’s the solution? While technology continues to evolve, the most urgent fix isn’t a new app—it’s a human one: data and tech literacy.

The Real Business Risk of AI-Generated Misinformation

Misinformation is no longer a fringe threat, it’s scalable, fast, and often indistinguishable from credible sources. For businesses, that introduces several risks:

  • Bad Decisions: From supply chain analysis to DEI efforts, professionals using flawed data or AI-generated misinformation can lead organizations in the wrong direction.
  • Brand Vulnerability: Sharing or even referencing inaccurate data can erode trust with customers, partners, or the public – especially in industries like healthcare, finance, and education.
  • Legal and Ethical Concerns: Utilizing or disseminating AI-generated content without proper verification can result in legal liabilities and ethical dilemmas.
  • Employee Confusion and Resistance: When staff encounter conflicting information across social platforms and tools (often powered by generative AI), well-intentioned training can be met with skepticism or disengagement.

What’s needed right now isn’t just more data or better Large Language Models, but rather smarter humans working more efficiently with AI’s capabilities.

Enhancing Data and AI Literacy in the Workplace

To future-proof your organization, you need a workforce that not only uses AI but understands how it works, and where it can go wrong.

1. Start with Algorithmic Awareness

Most professionals are unaware of how deeply algorithms shape the information they see; both inside and outside the workplace. From social media feeds to search engines to AI chatbots, content is personalized for engagement, not accuracy. This means two employees researching the same topic might see completely different sources, leading to divergent understandings of critical issues. Training should emphasize how these systems curate and rank information, how that influences perception and decision-making, and how to intentionally step outside those filters to get a more complete picture.

2. Build a Culture of Critical Data Consumption

Employees should be able to assess the credibility of sources, triangulate information, and challenge assumptions. Encourage questions like: Where did this data come from? Who benefits from this interpretation? Has this been verified? But beyond asking questions, organizations need to normalize a culture where pausing to vet information is seen as a strength, not a slowdown. This mindset shift supports better decisions, especially in high-stakes or ambiguous scenarios where false confidence in faulty data can have serious consequences.

3. Teach Teams to Spot AI-Generated Media

This is an increasingly vital skill. Here are a few quick tips that should be part of any modern training program:

  • Text Tells: Watch for overly generic phrasing, unnatural repetition of punctuation styles, formatting or phrasing, or claims without credible sourcing.
  • Visual Anomalies: AI-generated images often include extra fingers, irregular reflections, spot blurring, or warped backgrounds, especially with crowds or complex objects.
  • Tool Familiarity: Train your teams to use verification tools for video analysis, GPT detectors for text, and reverse image search engines.

4. Make It Ongoing, Not One-and-Done

The landscape is changing too quickly for a single webinar to cover it all. Consider integrating microlearning updates, quarterly ‘tech news’ updates or leadership messages, internal discussion forums, and AI literacy certifications into your broader L&D strategy.

Reinforcement over time not only keeps employees up to date but also helps them build habits of healthy skepticism and curiosity. Embedding these learning activities into regular workflows, through team discussions, project reviews, or decision-making checkpoints, helps ensure that data literacy doesn’t remain theoretical but becomes part of how people think and work every day.

Evolve with Confidence for the Future

We’re already living in the “post-truth” AI era. Waiting to act puts your business at risk; not just because of being misled, but because of being left behind.
If you’re ready to strengthen your team’s ability to think critically, use AI wisely, and make smarter decisions with data, Evolve Solutions Group can help. We’ve supported a range of organizations across industries in building practical, human-centered strategies for tech adoption and data literacy.

Book a free consultation to explore how we can help your team stay ahead and lead confidently in the age of AI.