Who Owns the Truth? AI, Authority, and the Future of Public Trust

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for information retrieval—it is increasingly acting as an agent on behalf of users, filtering, synthesising, and even negotiating the information they consume. This shift towards agentic AI behaviours means that individuals are no longer receiving a single, shared version of organisational knowledge; instead, they are forming personalised perspectives shaped by their own digital agents.

For membership organisations and professional bodies, this poses a profound challenge. Their public service mandate depends on promoting best practice, safeguarding accurate understanding, and representing authoritative viewpoints. Yet as AI intermediates more of the relationship between organisations and their audiences, there is a risk that those authoritative perspectives are diluted, fragmented, or distorted.

Philosopher and AI ethicist Professor Blay Whitby, in conversation with Julian Tedstone, will explore how this emerging reality reshapes the relationship between truth, authority, and trust. Together, they will ask:

• What happens when AI agents—not people—become the primary interpreters of professional standards and public service information?
• How can membership organisations ensure their expertise remains visible and credible when users’ digital agents may mediate or rewrite their messages?
• What strategies will be required to preserve authority, protect public understanding, and maintain trust in an environment where “truth” itself is increasingly personalised?

This session will offer membership leaders and public sector professionals a timely provocation: in the age of agentic AI, how do you continue to own your truth?