PhD Perspectives 25/26

Can you give us a brief overview of your research and what inspired you to choose this topic? 

My project title is “Addressing Conspiracy Theories With Generative AI: Building Resilience in Social Networks via Strategic Inoculation.” My research aims to realistically and empathetically characterize how individuals come to believe in conspiracy theories. I focus on how misperceptions about science, democratic institutions, and economic systems, alongside culturally acquired beliefs, make conspiacy narratives feel plausible. Based on this information, I design generative AI systems that help people resist conspiratorial narratives by fostering personal growth and deeper understanding of complex phenomena, rather than through a disease-cure approach. My motivation stems from seeing how conspiracy theories, used as tools of propaganda, can undermine trust in democratic institutions. I’m also inspired by personal experiences: I’ve seen how conspiratorial thinking can take a serious toll on the mental health of loved ones, but also how simply gaining a deeper appreciation of social complexity can help people move away from such beliefs without the need for direct confrontation. 

What has been the most surprising or interesting finding in your research so far? 

In early investigations, we found that people who see scientific progress as a linear progression driven by a few “geniuses” can believe conspiracy theories, while still holding a positive attitude toward science. This contrasts with the common assumption that conspiracism and rejection of science always go hand in hand. In a recent perspective paper, we argued that the sensationalist and apocalyptic rhetoric surrounding artificial intelligence, even from experts, may itself foster new AI-related conspiracy theories. These narratives can already portray AI as secretly controlling social systems, leaving humans powerless to resist. 

How do you think your research could impact the field of Sociology or society as a whole? 

My research can stimulate Sociology to embrace more complex and computational approaches, and to adopt a more interdisciplinary perspective when studying the influence of belief systems on individual and collective behavior. It can also expand the methodological toolkit of the discipline by showing how generative AI can be rigorously integrated into the research pipeline. I hope my work contributes to a more balanced societal relationship with conspiracy theories: recognizing that we are all, to some degree, culturally predisposed to find such narratives plausible, yet also showing that they can be countered without pathologizing believers or widening ideological divides. 

What advice would you give to other students who are considering pursuing a PhD in Sociology? 

Doing research can be extremely rewarding: it allows you to exercise creativity, patience, and rigor all at once. It gives you the chance to connect with extraordinary, passionate people and to work towards bringing positive change to the world. At the same time, pursuing knowledge at this level means two things: - you are not producing knowledge only for yourself, but contributing to the vast, organic body of human understanding; - you have to constantly confront an open sea of possibilities and take responsibility for the direction of your efforts. This can be both exciting and frightening. One must accept that long stretches of work may not lead to the results we expect. For this reason, it is vital to prioritize mental and physical well-being from the outset and to adopt a balanced perspective: progress comes in small, incremental steps, and failure is your friend.

December 2025