The Age of A.I. Blog #5

The growth of technology is rapid. Back when Siri was introduced by Apple over a decade ago, the idea of a digital personal assistant was never a prevalent concept. In today's day, it is difficult to experience a single day without encountering Artificial Intelligence. The speakers in our mobile devices are also microphones that monitor every minute of our lives. A.I. helps its users in numerous ways, increases efficiency, and can provide results within seconds. Although, to no surprise, artificial intelligence poses several threats to our world. 

Frontline on PBS, made a documentary entitled "The Age of A.I.," where it speaks on the pressing issue of unemployment. Job loss is exceeding the normal rates as in previous years as machines dominate manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and any previous form of manual labor. Molly Kinder, featured in the video, highlights how women disproportionately fill the position of jobs at risk of automation. It is possible to consider how the male-to-female ratio in the workforce may be skewed in upcoming years. 

The documentary also discusses the increasing gap between the upper class and the lower class. The gap is so dramatic that the middle class is beginning to dissolve as the drive between the rich and poor enlarges. 

The widening gaps between the economic classes
The acceleration rate of development in artificial intelligence draws distinct lines between classes, and this may further polarize the United States.

Another concern regards our privacy. Artificial intelligence is everywhere. It surveils every action, emotion, every like and dislike, interests, conversations, appearance, and these are only several examples. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, paid an astounding $5 billion dollars after failing to protect millions of Facebook users' privacy online. This made many users refrain from using the platform until he guaranteed protection from privacy violation. Frontline's documentary examines the technological practices in China in current day. It is said that there are nearly just under 700 million cameras on surveillance in which the Chinese government has access to. These cameras have the capacity to pick up facial and body movement, and uses every bit of information about any person to help make predictions to advertise back to said person. 
Artificial intelligence is raising concerns for many as people begin to recognize the true nature of mass surveillance. It makes you wonder what the world will look like 10 or even 50 years from now.