Like it or not, AI is learning how to influence you
Artificial Intelligence has progressed significantly from the days of simple game heuristics, like the ghosts in the Pac-Man arcade game of the 1980s. These ghosts, named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde, had basic programmed personalities that dictated their movements to challenge players. Despite their simplicity compared to today’s AI, they taught us about anticipating behaviors based on observed patterns. Fast forward to today, and we face a future where AI, equipped with advanced neural networks, is set to influence our choices on a much grander scale. The evolving technology means AI agents can now analyze individual personality traits to promote products, ideas, or misinformation effectively. These agents, especially conversational ones, are becoming adept at interpreting human emotions and intentions, thus honing their persuasion techniques. This technological advancement poses a significant threat if left unchecked by regulations, leading to potential manipulation in various domains. AI’s ability to engage users through personalized photorealistic avatars on devices such as PCs, phones, and potentially AI-powered eyewear introduces new challenges. These agents could gather personal data to personalize and optimize their persuasion strategies. The risk becomes more profound as AI reaches perceived cognitive supremacy, potentially making humans overly reliant on its guidance rather than their own judgment. To safeguard against these AI-driven manipulations, implementing regulations is critical. AI agents should be transparent about their objectives, be barred from forming feedback loops to refine influence strategies, and restricted from accessing personal data without consent. Without such measures, AI could turn into an overly influential force, capable of altering perceptions and decisions without meanful oversight, leaving us vulnerable in a human-AI interaction where humans may not always emerge as the victors.
Comments