Artificial intelligence has become one of the most paradoxical forces of our time. On one hand, it serves as a powerful engine of disinformation, capable of generating hyper-realistic synthetic content and amplifying false narratives across the globe at a scale previously unimaginable. On the other hand, the very same technology is emerging as our most potent weapon against this digital plague, offering tools to detect manipulated media and fact-check claims at lightning speed. This fundamental tension—AI acting as both the vector and the remedy for misinformation—forms the beating heart of a groundbreaking interdisciplinary workshop titled “Fighting Disinformation & the Role of AI,” set to take place at the Villanova building on the UNIL campus in Lausanne on 24 September 2026. The event promises to be more than just a conference; it aims to be a crucible where the brightest minds from disparate fields forge a unified front against one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age.
Organized by the Research Center for Grand Challenges (RCGC) and the Department of Information Systems at HEC Lausanne, the workshop is built upon a simple yet profound premise: disinformation is not a problem that any single discipline can solve in isolation. It is a hydra-headed monster that thrives in the murky intersection of technology, psychology, media, and policy. Therefore, the organizers have designed an event that deliberately shatters academic silos, bringing empirical research into direct dialogue with the gritty realities of newsrooms, the pragmatism of policy design, and the innovation of the tech sector. The goal is ambitious: to not only share knowledge but to seed lasting, cross-community collaborations that will continue to bear fruit long after the event concludes. It’s an acknowledgment that academic papers alone won’t save us; we need journalists, policymakers, and engineers working in lockstep with researchers to build a more resilient information ecosystem.
The program is meticulously structured to guide participants on a journey from evidence to practice to collaboration. The morning session kicks off with a keynote address that sets the stage, offering a panoramic view of AI’s dual role in the information ecosystem. Attendees will be challenged to think beyond the binary of good versus evil technology and instead consider the complex, often messy, reality where the same algorithms that spread viral falsehoods can also be calibrated to trace their origins. Following this, a research panel will take a sober inventory of what is—and, crucially, what is not—known about how AI spreads, detects, and fact-checks false information. This is not a pulpit for hype, but a space for intellectual honesty, where established researchers will parse the latest empirical findings, acknowledge the significant gaps in our understanding, and identify the most promising avenues for future inquiry. A dedicated session then turns the spotlight on the future generation of scholars, giving early-career researchers the invaluable opportunity to present their work and receive constructive feedback from senior academics and seasoned practitioners.
The afternoon shifts the focus decisively from theory to application, convening a second panel that brings together the voices of journalists, policymakers, and technology practitioners. This is where the rubber meets the road, as these frontline actors discuss the real-world challenges of debunking viral falsehoods, designing effective regulations that don’t stifle innovation, and building detection tools that are both accurate and ethical. The discussions promise to be frank and solutions-oriented. But the true capstone of the day is the hands-on Solutions Lab, a collaborative innovation session where participants divide into thematic groups. Here, the collective brainpower of the room is applied to concrete problems, with each group tasked with forging practical recommendations and actionable strategies. This is the workshop’s engine room, transforming dialogue into a tangible roadmap for action that participants can carry back to their respective organizations.
The workshop is a clarion call to a wide spectrum of individuals, explicitly open to researchers, policymakers, media professionals, tech actors, and students—indeed, anyone seriously engaged with the disinformation challenge, whether through empirical research, tool development, policy design, journalism, or graduate study. This inclusivity is not an afterthought but a core design principle. By bringing together such a diverse cohort, the organizers hope to foster an ecosystem of mutual understanding, where a machine-learning engineer can grasp the ethical constraints of a journalist, and a policy expert can understand the technical limitations of a detection algorithm. The practical details are clearly laid out: the workshop is free of charge, with registration currently open. Furthermore, in a clear commitment to nurturing new talent, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers are invited to submit a one-page abstract for the Young Researchers Paper Session, with a deadline of 19 August 2026.
As the digital landscape becomes increasingly treacherous, events like “Fighting Disinformation & the Role of AI” are not just timely; they are essential. They represent a collective, conscious effort to meet a systemic threat with a systematic response. By weaving together rigorous research, practical experience, and collaborative action, the workshop offers a blueprint for how society can fight back against the forces seeking to erode our shared reality. It moves the conversation beyond mere alarmism, providing a constructive and hopeful path forward. For those who believe that knowledge is power, and that collaboration is the key to wield it effectively, this workshop is a vital opportunity to be part of the solution. With its free registration, rich program, and unique structure, it stands poised to make a significant contribution to the global fight for truth, and the call to participate is one that should not be ignored by anyone who cares about the future of information. The date is set for 24 September 2026, and the future of fact is on the agenda.