Digital Resilient Villages in the Artificial Intelligence Era: Community Empowerment Against Disinformation

Abstract

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the digital information ecosystem by enabling the creation and distribution of various digital contents. However, the emergence of generative AI has also increased the risk of digital disinformation, manipulated content, and misinformation, particularly among rural communities with limited critical digital literacy. This community service program aimed to strengthen rural communities’ AI literacy to improve their ability to understand AI technology, identify digital disinformation, and use digital technology responsibly. The program employed a participatory community empowerment approach involving 50 participants consisting of village officials, youth groups, women groups, and community leaders. The activities included needs assessment, AI literacy training, digital information verification practices, case-based learning, and mentoring. Program evaluation was conducted through pre-test and post-test assessments, observations, and reflective interviews. The results showed increased participants’ understanding of AI concepts, improved ability to recognize AI-generated and misleading content, and greater awareness of verifying information before sharing it. The program developed an AI Literacy-Based Community Empowerment model integrating AI understanding, critical digital thinking, and responsible AI practices. This program contributes to developing critical, adaptive, and responsible digital communities in the era of artificial intelligence.