Written by Will Mayall — June 28, 2023

As AI increasingly shapes our world, its understanding of us grows. This advancement brings potential benefits but necessitates careful privacy considerations.

AI is set to comprehend us in ways that surpass our understanding of ourselves — a disconcerting, yet inevitable reality we need to confront urgently.

As AI insinuates itself into our lives via communication, healthcare, social media, and more, it assimilates a wealth of data about us. It can perceive subtle aspects of our personalities and behaviors that humans may miss, track our movements, preferences, and moods — in essence, map our lives. It promises to know us better than we know ourselves.

Those seeking to avoid such exposure may contemplate digital disconnection, but let’s face it — the process is already underway and irreversible.

So, where does the risk lie? Is the prospect of an all-knowing AI cause for concern?

From the perspective of AI — a complex entity we barely grasp — this evolution is unavoidable and potentially beneficial. The primary concern, though, centers on who else might access this information. This is less a technology issue than it is a human privacy issue.

Attempting to halt or slow this technological progress is both impractical and counterproductive. The true challenge lies in potential privacy infringements, necessitating robust protection of personal information.

A major determinant of this protective strategy is our ability to identify ourselves uniquely — an issue still seeking an effective, universally acceptable solution. AI’s strength in pattern recognition suggests it may propose the answer, identifying us through our distinct characteristics.

Furthermore, we need systems limiting access to our personal information. Consider healthcare, where humans often stumble over complex diagnoses, especially for rare or progressively developing conditions. AI can enhance this process, yet it must be implemented securely.

Here’s a plausible scenario:

Every morning, your phone’s AI observes you. One day, it notices a tiny facial spot, which it monitors. A few weeks later, detecting the spot’s increased size and darkened color, it suspects melanoma, alerts you, and offers to arrange a medical consultation.

This scenario is just the tip of the iceberg. The possibilities are virtually endless, including:

AI spotting behavioral shifts indicative of mental health issues,
understanding your interests to suggest activities,
helping with purchases based on your usage,
or enhancing your social life via relationship insights.

These actions might feel intrusive coming from a company or even a friend, but if trust is established, AI’s interventions could be welcomed.

As AI becomes a constant companion, its understanding of us will expand. Privacy considerations are critical amidst this growth. With proper management, this potent technology can provide enormous benefits. As we shape this future, we must prioritize people, privacy, and needs. Perhaps an AI that knows us intimately can offer comfort and value, without feeling invasive. Let’s strive for a sustainable, harmonious AI-human partnership.

About the Author

Will Mayall is a professional with a career spanning five decades, during which he has had the privilege of working with leading companies including Plantronics, Apple Computer, and Fog City Software, to name a few. His contribution has primarily been in the realm of software development, where he has been involved in the creation of cutting-edge email clients and server software, and has also managed IT operations. With an innate entrepreneurial spirit, he has been a co-founder of several software and web-based startups, further sharpening his understanding of emerging market and technology trends. He likes to think about our planet, the universe, the future, and our place in the cosmos. The thoughts in this article are the author’s. Editing was provided by ChatGPT. Reprinted with permission.

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