"Discussing the Dangers and Implications of AI Technology on Today's Society"
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology that can simulate human intelligence and tasks, operating through computer systems or machines (TechTarget). It is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives in areas such as transportation, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, education, and urban planning (ITChronicles). As AI becomes more intelligent, widespread, and technologically advanced, it is important to acknowledge the potential risks associated with this powerful tool.
One of the biggest concerns within the realm of AI is the rise of deepfakes, which use "a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to make images of fake events" (The Guardian). While some deepfakes are created for humor, the majority of them are pornographic, swapping celebrities' or public figures' faces on videos of porn performers. This is happening to more than just top celebrities, and deepfakes are spread across social media, damaging reputations and instilling feelings of distrust, fear, embarrassment, and trauma. AI technology goes beyond just manipulating videos, and can even alter images, voices, and entire online personas, making it difficult to determine the difference between what is real and manipulated.
There are still some telltale signs of AI-edited images and videos, like distorted hands or unnatural lines; but as technology advances, we are risking an era where trusting things posted online is going to be nearly impossible. This is an issue because once there is no trust left, what is actually true won’t be trusted either. Because AI has caused this issue, there may be a way to use the technology to accurately detect edited videos and images (The Guardian). Social media platforms need to work on their filtering mechanisms to end this spread of misinformation and harmful videos before it gets any worse.
Another issue surrounding AI is the fear that it will replace too many human jobs. McKinsey Goldman projects that “By 2030, tasks that account for up to 30 percent of hours currently being worked in the U.S. economy could be automated — with Black and Hispanic employees left especially vulnerable to the change” (BuiltIn). AI is not only a risk to automated jobs, but even to those requiring advanced degrees. As a Graphic Design student, I have personally witnessed how AI tools are starting to be used more by designers and while they haven’t replaced a designer's expertise yet, it could definitely be heading in that direction if guidelines aren’t made.
AI also has a powerful impact on society, and as it becomes more widespread it may be diminishing human creativity, emotional expression, communication, and social skills (BuiltIn). In an era where society is already constantly distracted and addicted to their phones, AI has the potential to replace human intelligence so we lose all of our social and intellectual skills. AI has also become a powerful tool for social manipulation, especially through social media algorithms that spread misinformation, political deepfakes, and false news.
Artificial Technology is a powerful and exciting new tool, but as it becomes more integrated into our lives, we need guidelines to protect society from its dangers. President Biden recently released an executive order regarding AI, but it is going to be an ongoing effort to ensure its ethical use and safety as technology advances.
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