With AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude reshaping how people search for information, traditional search engines like Google face new competition—and new scrutiny. But as more users turn to generative AI for answers, critical questions arise: How reliable are these AI "searches"? What happens when algorithms hallucinate facts, reflect hidden biases, or omit information entirely? Join the MediaEd Club as we explore the promises and pitfalls of AI-powered search, the growing debate over AI guardrails, and what this means for media literacy and education.
Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
Time: 12 pm EST | 6 pm CET | 10:30 pm IST
Required Media (please preview before attending)
Audio Podcast: "Deep Dive: Searching with AI - Can We Trust the New Gatekeepers?" (35.5 min)
Optional Media (enrich your learning)
- With AI Mode, Google Search Is About to Get Even Chattier (Wired, 28 May 2025)
- Google Offers ‘AI Mode’ in ‘Total Reimagining of Search’ (Financial Times, 21 May 2025) - archive.ph paywall free version
- Search is about to change as Google adds more AI options. Here’s what to watch out for. (Washington Post, 20 May 2025) - archive.ph paywall free version
- Perplexity AI: The Answer Engine With a Lot of Question Marks (The Verge, 23 Apr 2025)
- We Compared Eight AI Search Engines — They’re All Bad at Citing News (Columbia Journalism Review, 6 Mar 2025)
- ChatGPT All You Need: SearchGPT Now Available With Free Access, No More Subscriptions (TechTimes, 17 Dec 2024)
- Goodbye Google — I Spent The Weekend With ChatGPT Search And I’m Not Going Back (Tom's Guide, 4 Nov 2024)
- Can ChatGPT's New Search Engine Really Kill Google? (The Week, 4 Nov 2024)
Host: Dr. Wesley Fryer
Wesley Fryer, PhD, is a middle school STEM and media literacy middle school teacher at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina. As an educational technology “early adopter / innovator” since the late 1990s, Wes shares a variety of resources on social media platforms including BlueSky, Mastodon, YouTube, Linked In, Facebook, TikTok, etc. Learn more about him on wesfryer.com/bio. Watch one of his TEDx talks (or another presentation) via this YouTube playlist.
Please get in touch with us if you want to suggest future Media Club meeting topics to discuss an article, book, podcast, video or any media related to our interests.
Dr. Wes Fryer, Webinar Series Manager | wes.fryer@providenceday.org
* AI Image (for this webinar) generated by Wes Fryer using ChatGPT 4o.