In the AI era, one of the most important digital skills is learning how to question what we see online.

On March 31, 2026, Rebecca Jinnette, Digital Skills Educator with N.C. Cooperative Extension, returned to BlueJay Recreation Center in Bertie County with Lucas Heller to deliver a Senior Planet session on AI and disinformation. Four participants attended and practiced using online tools, including Northwestern’s Detect Fakes Project, to compare real and AI-generated images and videos.

The session became highly interactive. Participants tested examples, discussed what they noticed, and stayed an extra 30 minutes because they wanted to keep practicing. By the end, they were eager to share the tool with friends and family.

This story shows that AI education is not only about learning new tools. It is also about safety, awareness, and informed decision-making. Through personal instruction and group learning, residents gained skills that can help them navigate digital information with greater confidence.