Blog post 5: Living in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping society in ways that many struggle to fully understand. After watching Frontline PBS: Living in the Age of AI, I gained a clearer perspective on AI's impact on national security, economic disparity, and individual privacy. A significant insight was the concept of surveillance capitalism, where private firms exploit personal data to forecast and manipulate behavior. AI transcends a mere tool; it operates as a system that learns from us, frequently without our awareness. The film presents a compelling example: China's establishment of a vast surveillance apparatus. In Xinjiang, Uighur Muslims face rigorous oversight and are incarcerated in internment camps, effectively living in an AI-driven "open-air prison." This situation raises profound ethical questions about what constitutes excessive surveillance and how to balance security with personal liberties.

Another critical point highlighted in the film is AI's role in fostering economic instability and inequality by automating jobs, favoring those who own AI technologies, and displacing workers. Furthermore, privacy issues have become increasingly urgent, especially following Facebook's data breaches that revealed how companies procure and exploit our personal information. The McTaggart initiative, designed to empower consumers with more control over their data, has garnered substantial backing. While the documentary illustrates AI's significance in national security, it underscores more concerning uses, such as China's comprehensive surveillance of its populace.

This video enlightened me to the fact that artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a technological advancement; it is a formidable force shaping economies, governance, and individual rights. Although AI presents considerable advantages like enhanced efficiency and bolstered national security, it also raises pressing questions surrounding privacy, economic equity, and moral accountability. My immediate inquiries include: Could unchecked AI exacerbate the divide between the wealthy and the working class? Should nations implement stricter privacy laws, or might this stifle innovation? To what extent should corporations control our personal data? As AI evolves, we must question whether we are influencing AI or if it is influencing us.