November 5, 2026
This column originally appeared in AM NY.
Last month, the David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism brought together more than 400 leaders representing diverse communities from across the country for Together at the Crossroads: A Congress for Allyship & Unity. As we focused on how these government, faith, and civic leaders can work together to push back the tide of hate and antisemitism, one emerging threat—and opportunity—was glaringly clear: we must meaningfully respond to AI.
According to American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report, 69% of American Jews are concerned that information and misinformation shared by generative AI chatbots, such as Grok, ChatGPT, or Claude, will lead to antisemitic incidents, and 65% are concerned that generative AI chatbots will spread antisemitism.
Online misinformation and disinformation are increasingly threatening societies worldwide. The World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Risks Report ranks misinformation and disinformation among the most significant global risks over the next two years. Social media algorithms can also compound this threat by amplifying sensational and hateful content, exposing users to antisemitic narratives they never sought out.
This is particularly concerning as more young people turn to social media for news. In a 2026 study, researchers found that a simulated teenage account browsing lifestyle content was recommended antisemitic conspiracies within an hour, while another user who was viewing political posts encountered a video featuring a former Hamas spokesperson within 90 minutes.
As anti-Jewish content and dog whistles continue to evolve and become normalized online, AI is accelerating their creation and amplification at a scale and speed beyond human capacity to respond. At the same time, AI can be a powerful tool to combat antisemitism, helping identify coded language, detect emerging hateful narratives, and flag antisemitic content at a scale and speed that human moderators alone cannot achieve.
To meet this moment, we need to recognize AI as a threat, but also an opportunity to the Jewish community and all communities facing discrimination.
So, let’s not panic. Instead, let’s focus on what we can do: Jewish leaders must better understand AI so that we can respond more effectively, including by holding tech companies and governments accountable. Those of us in the fight against hate can, like those looking to spread hate, harness this technological revolution.
First, we must classify this threat as urgent, prioritize the response, and recognize that AI-enabled bots, often with support of malignant state and non-state actors, represent a significant source and amplifier of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment.
Second, Jewish organizations must become masters of content creation and better understand how algorithms work. Used properly, AI can amplify powerful positive stories, offering a counter to content that inaccurately—and often maliciously—depicts Jews.
Finally, Jewish organizations must continue to engage directly with social media companies, sharing resources like AJC’s Strategies for Digital Platforms and Technology Companies and working collaboratively to strengthen protections against antisemitism, including threats from malicious actors and foreign governments spreading disinformation.
The world’s oldest hatred is now being spread, at lightning speed, by the world’s newest technologies. If we do not want to be left behind, we need to act now.
Andrew H. Gross is Director of AJC New York.
