EducaMídia uses April Fools' Day to launch AI Awareness Month

AI literacy organization EducaMídia uses April Fools' Day to highlight AI-generated
misinformation, encouraging social media users to pause before sharing

NEW YORK, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AI literacy nonprofit EducaMídia has partnered with AI creative studio, SILVERSIDE to launch a campaign using April Fools' Day to expose how easily AI-generated misinformation can be mistaken for real.

The campaign arrives at a critical moment, as both the United States and Brazil approach major elections. With AI-generated content becoming more convincing and easier to distribute, the need for media literacy has taken on new urgency. To reach audiences in both regions, the campaign film will be released in English and Portuguese.

At the center of the campaign is a hyper-realistic AI-generated "breaking news" video announcing an outrageous scientific discovery. Watch it here.

Released on April Fools Day, the video closely mirrors the tone of legitimate reporting. Midway through, the story shifts into clear absurdity, revealing the fabrication and delivering a message about the risks of sharing AI-generated content without verification.

"Media literacy plays a critical role in protecting public discourse, especially in moments like elections," said Patricia Blanco, President of the Instituto Palavra Aberta, the organization that runs EducaMídia, "People are encountering AI-generated content every day, often without realizing it. When synthetic content can circulate as fact, it can influence how people think, what they believe, and how they act. Building the habit of questioning and verifying information is essential."

The work is designed to meet audiences in a moment when prank videos are expected and widely shared. By participating in that environment, the campaign redirects attention toward a broader issue that extends beyond a single day: encouraging people to question the content they encounter online and verify sources before sharing. It also introduces a call to action to recognize April as AI Awareness Month, inviting individuals and organizations to take part in strengthening media literacy.

"Every new creative technology expands what's possible and challenges what people can trust. With AI and social media, that shift is happening at an unprecedented scale. As creators working with these tools, we also have a responsibility to help people better understand them—and to encourage a pause before sharing content that could mislead or have real-world consequences," says PJ Pereira, Founder of SILVERSIDE.

As AI tools continue to evolve, the campaign highlights how easily fabricated content can appear credible and spread across platforms.

For more information about the campaign and how to get involved in AI Awareness Month, visit https://educamidia.org.br

About SILVERSIDE
SILVERSIDE AI is the industry's first independent creative studio and innovation lab built entirely for the AI era. Founded in 2024 by the founders of Pereira O'Dell, SILVERSIDE helps brands like Coca-Cola, Amazon, Svedka, Levi's, and Hershey's, reimagine their marketing ecosystems and turn AI into a strategic advantage for modern advertising. The studio is known for its work on Svedka's Super Bowl spot and Coca-Cola's holiday campaigns.

Media Contact:
Emma Swanson
[email protected]
Pereira O'Dell, Silverside AI
+1-716-225-1186

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SOURCE Silverside AI