Inaction of AI Stands Unacceptable: Urgency Demanded in the Present Context
In this twisted, whirlwind era of global strife and technological advancement, nations grapple with internal squabbles, jeopardizing long-cherished values. The United States, a prominent defender of human rights and constitutional values, faces a storm of internal divisions eroding these very principles. Academia and research freedom, the pillars of progress, face unwelcome challenges. Meanwhile, the Middle East is a hotbed of unresolved tensions, flaring up at a moment's notice, while Europe wrestles with a troubling surge of nationalism and controversy surrounding the Ukraine crisis. United Nations agencies, once a beacon of international cooperation, find themselves in the US's political crosshairs. Amidst all this chaos, pervasive technology marches on, shaping our world in subtle yet profound ways, with artificial intelligence (AI) standing at the forefront.
The modern world is a treacherous playground for the bystander effect, a psychological phenomenon as ancient as humanity. The larger the group, the less likely we are to intervene when confronted with a problem. This inherent human tendency, already harmful in traditional settings, becomes more menacing in today's context. Drowned by a never-ending torrent of information, we feel like insignificant cogs in a vast, impersonal machine, unable to make a difference.
Kitty Genovese's tragic 1964 case demonstrated this phenomenon, though its details have since been called into question. In this newer, digital landscape, we're witness to colossal global challenges, intractable conflicts, and societal injustices that defy easy resolutions. This leaves us feeling helpless, failing to alter our own situation or that of others, which further fuels our bystander mentality, focusing on our own needs while ignoring the rest.
A multitude of factors contribute to our inactivity: information overload, the spatially and emotionally distancing effects of technology, and the complexity of the issues we face.
A World Without Control: The Digital Age's Stranglehold on Agency
Agency, the capacity to act intentionally, is crucial for human well-being. Our actions shape our lives, contribute to our communities, and offer purpose and meaning. However, both our perceived ability to act and our willingness to do so matter as much as the action itself. With a dwindling sense of agency, we experience feelings of self-alienation, despair, and learned helplessness.
In a world where virtual and real lives entwine, the erosion of agency takes sinister forms. Our online platforms create cognitive echo chambers that reinforced existing biases, hinder critical thinking, and limit exposure to diverse perspectives. Social media algorithms influence our beliefs and actions without our knowledge, create a deceptive sense of empowerment, and push us deeper into learned helplessness.
Joining the fight against injustice online often elicits the illusion of participation without real-world impact. Some argue that it's an easy escape, a languid means of enacting change that requires minimal effort. As we surrender our data and personal information to tech companies, they seek to manipulate and control us for profit, further diminishing our sense of agency.
AI: A Coin with Two Faces
AI presents a tantalizing paradox. On the one hand, it can democratize information, facilitate collective action, and automate mundane tasks, hence, enhancing our agency. But on the other hand, AI endangers human agency by introducing algorithmic bias, dismantling jobs, and eroding the skills and knowledge held within our communities.
Practical Remedies: The A-Frame to Recover Agency
Embracing agency is essential for human and societal flourishing in today's complex landscape. To secure our future, we must cultivate heightened agency, both individually and collectively. The A-Frame offers a practical, four-step plan to help:
- Awareness: Cultivate a keen understanding of the forces shaping your life and the world you inhabit, including geopolitical dynamics, technological advancements, and psychological factors fueling the bystander effect.
- Appreciation: Value the unique abilities of both humans and AI. Recognize the power of technology, but also celebrate the irreplaceable role of human empathy, critical thinking, and moral integrity in creating a just and sustainable world.
- Acceptance: Grasp the reality of change and uncertainty. Accept that our world is complicated, and there are no silver bullets. Focus on what you can control, and take small, deliberate actions every day to affect positive change in your corner of the world.
- Accountability: Take responsibility for your actions and stand firm in defending the values you cherish. Be vigilant about holding yourself and others accountable, and challenge those who trample essential moral and ethical principles. By doing your part, however small, you can model human dignity and protect it.
- In the intricate dance between humanity and technology, agentic awareness becomes a cornerstone for preserving our individual and collective agency amidst the fog of fatigue and the bystander effect.
- Adopting an A-Frame approach, we must let go of any lingering automation-induced complacency to embrace awareness, appreciation, acceptance, and accountability as the key steps towards agency revitalization.
- As artificial intelligence advances, it becomes increasingly essential to view this technology as a double-edged sword - one that, while automating menial tasks, may also imperil our agency if left unchecked by strategic and intentional intervention.
