“In the Age of AI” is a really interesting documentary about the changes that Artificial Intelligence is bringing to our world. AI affects our everyday lives, often in ways that we don’t even realize. It can be fun to ask Alexa for the weather forecast or to play a favorite song, but I had no idea how these simple actions can be used to gather data about me. I was really surprised to see how AI is being used to gather data in China. Facial recognition is so advanced, it can recognize your face in 0.1 seconds. While it is convenient for Chinese citizens to buy lunch with just a facial scan, it’s not so convenient for them to be caught jaywalking and shamed online as well as fined. When applying for a loan, Chinese citizens can be approved or rejected based on thousands of criteria, including how they keep their phone battery charged (a lower charge often indicates someone will be more likely to default on their loan). I don’t think that the convenience and speed of these types of transactions is worth giving up all the intimate details of your life.
I was also surprised to hear that there could be autonomous driving vehicles, particularly freight hauling trucks, in 5-10 years. Autonomous driving will probably be safer, but unfortunately will cause drivers to lose their jobs. "Mid skill" jobs such as food preparation, cleaning, and driving have the highest likelihood of being replaced. In the documentary, a family who relies on a truck driver’s income was forced to use the money in their child’s piggy bank to pay for a doctor’s visit. Automation brings efficiency, but at what cost?
In certain circumstances, I think the data collected with AI can have benefits. I was impressed with the improvements AI has made in breast cancer diagnoses and treatment. By comparing mammograms of large groups of women, doctors are now able to diagnose and treat cancer earlier. Doctors can also use AI to treat patients without a hospital visit, such as the use of glucose monitoring apps in diabetic patients. If a person consents to sharing their data, it can be harnessed for good. But something one of the people in the film said really stuck with me. We are not using social media - social media is using us. Companies that use our data may not share our goals. And that is something everyone should consider.
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