Understanding the Consequences of AI's Profit-Driven Nature
The Reality of AI as the Product
While enjoying a long road trip, I discovered that when I searched for 'Food Near Me' using Google Maps, the results were disappointing. Major chains like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell dominated the recommendations instead of local favorites. This led me to realize that I wasn't the customer; I was the product.
The Scope of Information We Share
- Services such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Search come at the cost of personal data.
- Intimate information including travel destinations, purchases, and listening habits is sold to the highest bidder.
Trends in AI Development
As we witness AI systems gaining popularity, their alignment with corporate interests becomes more concerning. Like Google Maps, AI programs create recommendations that favor advertisers, not users. For instance, ChatGPT’s response to my inquiry for a quote exemplified this issue when it provided a hallucinated rather than an accurate reference.
Conclusion
We must question our dependency on technology that we do not financially support. As Taco Bell's health benefits were misrepresented by ChatGPT, so too could our realities be distorted by AI in service of profit. To prevent this, a push for transparency and accountability within AI systems is necessary.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.