Board member Jon Gold on critical thinking, skepticism as a ‘superpower’ and humanity in the AI age
Jon Gold plays a pivotal role in turning some of the world’s most challenging problems into ambitious, viable solutions. He joined the News Literacy Project board of directors in October 2025 and believes news literacy education will give kids the sense of curiosity and discovery that drives his own work.
In this Q&A, Gold discusses why critical thinking is more important than ever, why skepticism is a “superpower” for young people and why he thinks we must embrace our humanity in the age of AI.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Q: Has generative AI brought challenges and opportunities to how you create, consume and evaluate information?
A: I see AI as a massive opportunity for both students and teachers, but it also requires a heightened level of awareness when creating or navigating information. We all live in a new reality where information moves faster than we were ever prepared for, and we must be much more intentional about understanding the facts.
On the creation side, it helps you get past that “blank page” syndrome or the mundane parts of a project, so you can focus on the big picture. AI can get you most of the way, but you cannot stop there. You have to wear your critical thinking hat and ask questions like: Does it make sense? Have you verified with external sources? Does it reflect your views? Are you proud of it?
When it comes to consuming information, I think of AI as the ultimate personal tutor. I’m constantly geeking out on unfamiliar subjects through these tools.
There’s another layer to this: interpretation. We live in an ecosystem where newsrooms, advertisers and influencers use AI, too. That’s OK, of course, but it means we must be much more intentional about asking: Who is behind it?
This is why I’m so excited about the News Literacy Project’s work with educators. They help teachers and students move beyond just using technology to truly interpreting it. By providing these resources, students are empowered to identify AI’s footprint in the world and use their critical thinking skills to stay grounded.
Q: News Literacy Project research shows that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are cynical about the news media today. How do you decide which information to trust?
A: Younger generations have inherited a fractured and incredibly complicated information environment, and in many ways, older generations have failed them. When I see the News Literacy Project survey data showing how much they struggle to trust anything at all, I’m sad, but I also get it. What I love, though, is their fundamental skepticism toward traditional ways of viewing the world. That skepticism — once it’s better informed — is a superpower for the future.
My best trick for turning cynicism into a more productive skepticism is to lean into curiosity — about your own feelings, about the facts, about other people.
When I encounter something that triggers me emotionally, I try not to lock it in as true or false right away. I use a different way of thinking, like, “That’s interesting. I wonder if it’s true. Let me do some more digging.”
At the end of the day, I still believe in turning to news sources. For the topics that really matter, I’ll spend time reading across the political spectrum and looking at international publications to get a range of perspectives. I don’t have time to do that for everything, but for the “high-stakes” information that affects how I think, I put in the work to validate it.
Q: The News Literacy Project’s vision is that all students are skilled in news literacy before they graduate from high school. What does “news literacy” mean to you, and why is it essential for today’s kids?
A: To me, news literacy is an unlock for modern life. It’s a set of skills that go way beyond just “the news.” Once you have a grounding in how to think critically about a headline, you start applying that same logic to a scientific study, a historical event or even a new piece of technology. It’s a multi-disciplinary gift.
I have the most fun when I get to be in a state of deep curiosity. By teaching news literacy, the News Literacy Project is giving kids a way to experience that intellectual joy. It moves them from being dictated to by others to actively exploring and being in control of their own perspectives.
I want kids to have the tools to enjoy the process of navigating their own way. Having a healthy sense of skepticism lets you stay engaged with the world without getting overwhelmed by it. It’s the bridge to discovery, giving kids a chance to build a future on a shared reality they’ve taken the time to explore and understand for themselves.
Q: Is there an important question that no one is asking about topics like generative AI, news literacy, our digital information environment or education policy?
A: I think the question we aren’t asking enough is: “How do we ensure that the speed of AI doesn’t replace the need for human judgment?” We hear so much debate about how AI is going to replace humans, but I think the real challenge is figuring out how we’re going to work together.
There is a lot of anxiety right now about AI taking over jobs, but I think the high-value work of the future is going to belong to the people who can combine their “humanness” — their critical thinking, their ethics, and their intuition — with the technology. AI can generate a thousand answers in seconds, but it’s the human who must determine if those answers are useful, accurate, or even worth sharing.
That’s why I find the News Literacy Project’s mission so compelling. It isn’t just about spotting “fake news” — it’s about providing the foundational skills for the most important roles of the future. If we want a world where technology empowers us rather than just outpacing our own thinking, we have to invest in the people using it. We must make sure our judgment is just as sophisticated as our tools.
