Discernment
(Lesson 3)
Context:
In the final part of our lesson on discernment, we’ll explore two additional ways to strengthen it—and examine why this skill is especially important in today’s age of AI.
Developing Discernment
3. Gather & Evaluate Information Effectively
Research broadly and filter wisely. This means, don’t settle for the first article, headline, or post that confirms what you already think. Instead, seek information from multiple reliable sources—compare facts, look for patterns, and note where credible voices agree or differ. As you gather information, practice filtering signal from noise: ask yourself what truly matters, what’s just opinion, and what’s designed to distract or persuade. The goal isn’t to find what feels right—it’s to find what is right.
Challenge your own assumptions.
This means turning the lens inward. Question your own beliefs, biases, and first impressions. Ask yourself, Why do I think this? What evidence supports it? and What if I’m wrong?
This simple practice builds humility and sharpens insight. People who regularly test their own assumptions grow faster, make better decisions, and are less likely to be misled by others or themselves.
If you already practice this, that’s great. But sometimes it takes courage to step back and realize that a belief or decision you felt sure about might need to be rethought.
Developing Discernment
4. Seek Input and Feedback
Discernment grows stronger when you invite other perspectives. Collaboration and discussion with trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends can help you see what you might miss on your own—but only if you’re willing to listen with an open mind.
Sometimes, another person’s insight reveals blind spots or new options you hadn’t considered.
Actively seek feedback—not just from those who agree with you, and not only when things go wrong, but as a regular part of how you make decisions.
Listening to how others see your choices or reasoning helps refine your judgment. Over time, this practice builds confidence, humility, and the wisdom to make sound decisions in any situation.
Group Excercise
Choose three people to present news stories to the group. Using Google or another search engine, have each person find or create a story. One should select a real news event, while the other two make up convincing but false stories.
After each presentation, allow the group to ask questions before voting on which story they believe is true. Then, discuss: What made certain stories seem believable? Was it the level of detail, the confidence of the presenter, or something else? What clues helped you discern truth from fiction?
Note how easy or difficult it was to identify the true story. Did bias play a role in the difficulty of discerning the truth? What questions helped to discern what was true or false?
Discernment in the AI Age.
Is it true?
With the advent of AI, it can be even more difficult to believe what we see or hear.
AI video and voice-creation apps are now everywhere, and they’re designed so that the average person can easily produce convincing, realistic visuals and audio.
While these tools were originally meant for entertainment, their ability to recreate anyone’s voice from a short sample—paired with rapidly improving lip-sync technology—means that anyone can make someone else appear to say something, both in video and audio.
Even though more organizations are pushing for policies that restrict using a person’s likeness or voice without their consent, we must use discernment more than ever when watching social media posts and even professional video broadcasts.
AI Proof Your Decision Making
Thought leaders across business, education, and leadership emphasize that while AI can analyze enormous amounts of data, it cannot interpret values, intentions, or context the way humans can. As AI-generated content becomes more common, the ability to pause, evaluate, and think critically is becoming a defining trait of effective professionals.
Research shows that people with stronger analytic thinking and higher digital literacy are far better at distinguishing human content from AI-generated material, while heavy social media users misidentify AI content more easily. These differences highlight why trained discernment is quickly becoming a real professional advantage
Legal Ramifications
As AI becomes more accessible and convincing, poor discernment can put organizations at risk. Misjudging or misusing AI-generated content can lead to ethical issues, legal problems, and reputational damage. Strong discernment helps employees use AI responsibly and avoid these costly mistakes..
Summary
The word discernment isn’t used often, but its rarity doesn’t diminish its importance. People who practice discernment stand out in a world where snap judgments, assumptions, and outdated thinking are common. They’re the ones trusted with complex projects, sensitive information, and leadership responsibilities because others rely on their sound judgment. Apply the methods we discussed, and you’ll become someone known for being truly discerning.
Thought of the day.
“Unlike sound reasoning or good judgment, discernment isn’t just something you do—it’s something you are.”- Mindsage