The future of AI is bright for everyone, except democracy

Arielle Andrews, Contributing Writer

Imagine a world where you live 50 years longer, experiencing a new career every 25 years and rarely, if ever, taking a single sick day. Or how about a world where your “soulmate” is chosen for you out of a list of potential suitors and you can know instantly whether they would make a good match? 

Not interesting enough? What if I said you could live in a country that has eradicated injustice and is always fair? In this place, you would never have to worry about crime or racism again. 

These may sound like impossible pipe dreams stirred up by poets and sci-fi writers, but some engineers predict that this is what human life could look like if we let artificial intelligence, or AI, take over. 

AI didn’t exist 80 years ago. The concept developed during the 1940s and describes computer systems capable of handling tasks that normally require human intelligence, according to the Council of Europe. The catch is because AI has centuries of data fed into it, its level of intelligence is far greater and faster than the average human. 

The world I just described to you — the one where humans live to 150 — is possible under AI. If AI could figure out ways to prevent aging, have your heart beat longer or even stop the spread of disease, you could double your lifetime. Some experts say this world is centuries from now, but some argue it’s only as little as 30 years away. 

What is true is that AI is rapidly changing the landscape of our everyday lives. From the algorithm on your TikTok app to programs that let you translate different languages in real-time, there are neat applications of AI already in existence. 

However, what “Silicon Valley Tech bros” and AI enthusiasts see as “neat” can also be viewed as downright “terrifying” for the average user. The “future” of AI could potentially be more sinister than we imagined. 

Recently, AI has been used to create digital works of art by inputting data from real artists and mimicking certain styles. There has been large controversy surrounding this as many people contemplate the ethics and legality but mostly the applications are endless. 

To that end, short videos and animation have been created by AI. Some programs exist that allow you to input any prompt and a true-to-life photograph will be created. You can steal the voices of your favorite artists and have AI say whatever you want. Perhaps most terrifying, you can take already existing forms of media and use AI to digitally alter its likeness, making people say things they didn’t or do things they never would have. These are aptly called “Deep Fakes,” after deep learning. 

These programs often are flawed. As of right now, you can spot the difference between AI and the real thing. Some tricks include looking at the hands, or for warped spaces. Pay attention to jewelry and hints of the uncanny valley. If you’re listening to AI, look for a lack of real variation in tone, pitch, and nuance. 

However, as AI gets more sophisticated, it will be harder to tell what is fake. 

“Such is the nature of the game,” The Guardian science editor Ian Sample wrote in the article “What are Deepfakes – and how can you spot them?” “As soon as a weakness is revealed, it is fixed.”

It isn’t hard to imagine that pretty soon the average person won’t be able to spot a deep fake. Even now, deep fake images and videos are spread as if they are true. Just a week ago, images of the Pope went viral on Twitter and TikTok with many praising his “drip” and white coat fashion. 

A week prior, images of Donald Trump fleeing arrest could be seen everywhere online. Conservative outrage is constantly peaked when videos of drag queens dancing for children elicited their daily “gays are groomers” tirades. 

These images and videos were quickly debunked, but it won’t be long before it isn’t as easy for the average person. While most governments own sophisticated fraud detectors, your typical social media user must rely on their base knowledge. As media literacy decreases and AI blooms, how will users navigate this?

“Media Literacy” is the ability to think critically about the things you see online. Someone who is media literate can tell when things are credible or accurate. It’s not taught in schools. Most people lack it, but it is an important tool for avoiding internet lies.

Most people rarely read the articles they share or look closely at the media they are consuming. A research article published by the Society of Consumer Psychology found that only 51% of people read articles. Most of them will scan the headline and fake expertise. Important messages are being condensed to 250 characters. We are constantly engaging in life with half-truths and bare-boned knowledge. 

Even when things are proven to be false, some people will still believe them or share them. With places like TikTok becoming Generation Z’s number one news source, media literacy is only going to get worse. 

Imagine your mother called you and demanded frantically you deposit $1,000 in her bank account — would you do it? If you heard an audio clip of a high-ranking official admitting to a large conspiracy, would that affect the way you vote?

You hope it wouldn’t. You pray it wouldn’t. But if you’re bombarded with deep fakes faster than they can be disproven, what is the amount of time required to prevent you from acting rashly? We already know about the echo chamber effect present online, or the algorithmic tendency to only show you things you believe to be true. If everyone you see online believed it, would you?

Not only could AI cause ignorance among the people but it can also be used to create police states within countries. Big Brother-esque, if you will. 

AI can be used to stalk, control and brainwash citizens. Imagine living in a country where the government is always listening, where they control who you talk to and what you see online. They can imitate your brother or mother to get you to act under their will or just spy on you. They know everything about you and your very reality is bent to their will. 

Not so neat now, is it?

I don’t think we need to start a witch hunt for AI just yet. It can indeed wreak havoc on democracy, but only if we let it. 

As far as mass misinformation goes, funnily enough, one of the solutions is AI. Artificial intelligence can spot other artificial intelligence. These systems are not perfect, but they’re working to get better in the future. Digital watermarks, or a blockchain online ledger, could be used to show the authenticity of videos, images and audio. 

Government regulation and improved media literacy will also help humans spot fakes. 

If you’re worried about “Big Brother,” that future is closer than you think. The solution will be to set human rights and privileges against AI now so that hopefully it won’t be used against them in the future. 

Most importantly, remember, it’s nice to imagine a world where AI solves all our problems, but it’s especially important to remember that world comes at a heavy cost, and it might just be your freedom.