At the moment, there is a lot of fear around Generative AI. Common concerns are that it will take over jobs, concentrate wealth, or boost manipulative content. These are all valid concerns, but it’s not the technical advances that we should be afraid of. People misusing generative AI is scarier than the technology itself. The distinction between fear of a tool and of how it is used is essential when forming an opinion.
Whatever one’s views are on Generative AI, the current situation supports a stronger focus on educating people about it. It is easier than ever to spread harmful messages or create unfair advantages. We must not allow unfounded fear to stop us from keeping that in check.
Why is there so much fear related to generative AI?
So how do we people overcome their fears and objectively assess AI for what it is and who is using it? The first step is to understand the core reason driving these fears. Thanks to the democratization of Generative AI, the masses now have access to it. The implications of this have been swift and surprising even to the most seasoned AI expert. The speed at which Generative AI is changing our way of working has been unnerving, and it is impossible to overstate the disruption caused by its widespread usage. News stories appear daily with dire predictions like the following, helping fuel discomfort with these developments.
- “Artificial intelligence could lead to extinction, experts warn,” 2 or
- “Yuval Noah Harari argues that AI has hacked the operating system of human civilization.” 3
Those fears may or may not be valid, but the only way to find out is to step away and assess the situation objectively.
Let’s take a moment to frame the discussion and clarify the core concern many people are dealing with. This technology has suddenly thrust us all into the realm of uncertainty, and people are afraid of what that means for their position in life. James Currier describes the psychology of anxiety related to new tech solutions well in his article, The Lifecycle of Uncomfortable Tech 1. He explains how new technologies can trigger a perceived loss of status. “As pack animals, human beings are constantly trying to establish their position in a hierarchy. Creating a new technology often means that the rules of that hierarchy are about to change.” Fear comes from the sudden uncertainty about a person’s significance after AI transforms everything around us.
Data literacy can help ease fears and fill perception gaps
At this moment of disruption, it is essential to talk equally about the technology and the people who use it. To do this, we need to get people to want to know more about generative AI instead of fearing it. It isn’t some bogeyman lurching in the corner but rather a tool controlled by the people investing in it. It is these people and their underlying motivations that we should be looking at. This is where data literacy can and must step in and fill the perception gaps.
Fear related to change is present every time there is a digital advancement. Therefore, there are already data literacy techniques to manage it, preventing it from stopping critical steps forward. Identifying and overcoming fears that prevent a person from objectively assessing a new tool is essential to success in the digital age. Without it, emotions prevent reason from seeing and evaluating it for what it is.
We must not let fear decide the path forward when considering generative AI. Governments, schools, and companies should set up informational data literacy initiatives with topics such as the following:
- Clarify what exactly Generative AI is, as for many, it’s nothing more than a buzzword
- Address the real risks, such as disinformation and data privacy
- Give examples of how Generative AI has supported productivity
- Teach the responsible use of Generative AI
- Advise on how to recognize AI-generated content.
As technology disrupts our way of thinking and working, this educational campaign would help society get on a level playing field.
Get past fear of generative AI and consider the people side
As I mentioned initially, AI is nothing more than a technology. Instead, people misusing generative AI is scarier than the technology itself. It will take away jobs, just like every advancement does. Misinformation will increase and be harder to recognize. Wealth and influence will be concentrated on the few, just as with every disruptive technology. Yet, In the end, it won’t be technology that makes this happen but rather the leading players who use it for their benefit over society’s general benefit.
It will be much easier for people to abuse this situation and cause serious harm before anyone notices what is happening. We can’t afford to allow the few with evil intent and plentiful resources to pour into this new technology to set the rules. This is especially true if fear prevents us from considering what it is. This technology is here to stay. We must commit to educating ourselves about it and let it be used for good. Data literacy must play a vital role in this.
Check out these articles for more on why not to be afraid of generative AI:
Sources:
1 The article can be found here: https://www.nfx.com/post/lifecycle-of-uncomfortable-tech
2 BBC News article by Chris Vallance from May 30, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65746524
3 The Economist article by Dan Williams from April 28, 2023 https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/04/28/yuval-noah-harari-argues-that-ai-has-hacked-the-operating-system-of-human-civilisation