Why Connecting AI to Social Media and Political Decision-Making Is a Failing Strategy

Over the past decade, the idea of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into political decision-making has gained significant traction. However, the United States' experience over the last four years clearly demonstrates this approach is fraught with challenges and potential failures. It is crucial to understand the limitations of AI and the issues surrounding its implementation in governance.

AI Decision-Making: A Flawed Concept

Many proponents argue that AI makes better, more informed decisions compared to traditional methods. However, this assertion is misleading. AI is not inherently superior or neutral. Instead, AI mirrors the biases of its creators, reflecting the values, data sets, and feedback processes used in its training phase.

Biases in AI

Consider the case of an AI designed for content moderation. If the training data was provided by individuals who view newspapers like the New York Times and Huffington Post as 'neutral,' the AI would naturally skew toward a far-left bias. This could result in the misclassification of comments, such as moderate criticism of illegal immigration, as hate speech.

Vulnerability to External Influences

Even if an AI is powerful, its use in high-stakes situations—like political decision-making—requires an unbiased view. An AI that makes a mistake, such as suggesting indiscriminate violence, would be detrimental. For instance, in the case of treating toe fungus and diseases like HIV or drug-resistant tuberculosis, the impact would be dire.

The Power Game

Those in power would naturally prefer AI systems that align with their views. An AI that makes controversial or unpopular decisions would be quickly removed and deactivated. This allows the powerful to avoid public backlash while shifting the blame to an inanimate system.

AI and Social Media: A Web of Manipulation

The integration of AI into social media platforms reveals a more insidious issue. Social media platforms utilize AI to tailor news feeds to individual users, often favoring content that aligns with the platform's political leanings. This manipulation has a direct impact on the political views of the users.

Political Bias in Social Media

Industries and groups with aligned political views can access detailed user engagement data from the AI algorithms. They use this data to strategically craft and distribute content that resonates with specific audiences. Third-party tech companies, often funded by these groups, provide AI solutions to amplify their messages.

A Transparently Biased System

It is not entirely conspiracy theory to assert that the U.S. political landscape is deeply intertwined with these AI-driven strategies. The data and methodologies employed by these systems are well-documented, making it clear that they are deeply involved in shaping political discourse and public opinion.

Conclusion

While the idea of AI in decision-making is intriguing, its implementation in areas like social media and politics must be met with skepticism. The biases, vulnerabilities, and potential for misuse outweigh any perceived benefits. Instead of relying on flawed AI, we must prioritize transparent, ethical, and human-driven policies to address pressing social and political challenges.