Jul 8, 2021
AI is reshaping our society
3 questions you should ask yourself for better use of AI
We have the feeling that technology is advancing very fast. We can’t stop for a minute and think about what’s going on. We’re probably already in the 3rd or 4th industrial revolution. So let’s accept that it’s an interesting time to be alive.
Our society is always evolving, but now it seems the speed of change has exponential growth. We have adopted AI in our daily lives with no fear. Its applications in the real world and productive systems are countless and still increasing. Its magnetism has made us trust it without questioning how it works and its decisions.
We let AI tell us how we would look better, who could be our next partner or guide us when we’re stuck in a traffic jam. Many of us tend to think that’s the only possible solution to our problem, but should we trust them?
What kind of society are we living in? Why are we trusting machines instead of people? Are people really scared of this phenomenon? Will AI be able to replace human intelligence?
We know AI is reinforcing our human thoughts and beliefs. There is no way we can hide this from ourselves. Our values are invisible to the eye, but visible to what we create. And this is something we forget. Machines are reproducing those invisible principles that only a few can suffer. Yes, it sounds like magic, but the other way around.
Those individuals who are affected notice its consequences every day. Nobody counted on them when a new application was released. AI is only making life easier for just a few. They track our daily activity since we wake up ’til we go to sleep, and we’re fine with that. They make us believe we are more in charge of our lives than ever when what is happening is that we are giving them our data privacy for free. Should we receive compensation for that?
The most valuable thing we owe at the moment is our data and we aren’t aware of it. That’s what companies are fighting for at the moment. Nowadays they can’t cope with all the information they receive from us and this is the advantage we have towards a final dehumanization of all our daily tasks.
Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social. Revolution that divests itself of ethical values thereby lays the foundation of injustice, deceit, and oppression for the future society. The means used to prepare the future become its cornerstone.
Emma Goldman
It is time we acknowledge the value of our habits, our interests, and our concerns. Companies are making money from it shaping our society towards a more customized product. You will inevitably buy it because it’s made based on your likes and dislikes, but what if these companies don’t know you well?. I still remember having fun reading Karen Hao’s article about how to organize a data strike.
We are members of this active culture and we must participate purposefully in the decisions that are taken regarding AI. We must know what is behind the tools we’re using and see if it’s leaving someone behind. No one must be apart.
We must constantly ask ourselves these 3 questions:
Do I feel comfortable sharing my data?
Who’s owning it?
What’s the purpose of this collection? Do I clearly understand the use and conditions section?
And why constantly? Because the number of companies using AI is increasing and this is only just the start.
If we want a real inclusive AI, this must be built and used in a conscious way. Many people are asking themselves how AI is changing our society because innovation has gone so far and it’s uncontrollable. Some try to answer their questions by googling. That’s because Google seems to be the oracle of the 21st century: it tells you everything about everybody, and it’s always right.
We’ve gone so far with technology in recent years. And it seems we’re living in a constant dystopia where machines are winning the battle. It’s time to put ourselves in the first place again and think about how AI can be our ally instead of a guide of our destiny.
