As the spread of misinformation and digital manipulation grows, building critical thinking and digital resilience is now an essential educational and societal priority. The AI4Debunk project addresses this challenge through the development of an innovative vir-tual reality (VR) training game designed to empower users—especially students and young adults—to recognize, analyze, and resist digital deception in a safe, engaging, and interactive environment. 
AI4Debunk leverages the unique affordances of VR and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to immerse players in a series of narrative-driven, interactive scenarios, each crafted to simulate the psychological and social pressures that users encounter online. Drawing on research from cognitive science, media literacy, and behavioral psychology, the game’s structure and mechanics are carefully designed to develop both analytical skills and emotional resilience.
From an HCI perspective, AI4Debunk prioritizes accessibility and user comfort, featuring intuitive VR controls, multimodal feedback, and adjustable difficulty to accommodate different ages and skill levels. The platform supports both individual and team-based training, enabling collaborative learning and discussion either synchronously in VR or through follow-up activities in the classroom or workshop. 
Rigorous pilot testing with educators and students has demonstrated the platform’s effectiveness in increasing media literacy, improving digital self-efficacy, and fostering lasting critical thinking skills. Analytics from player interactions provide actionable insights for teachers and curriculum designers to further personalize and optimize educational interventions.