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Comunicar Journal 79: Metaversal and Transhumanist Ecologies: Perspectives for Digital Reculturization (Vol. 32 - 2024)
A Look at the Risks and Threats of Artificial Intelligence, From Media Ecology
Octavio Islas
Fernando Gutiérrez-Cortés
Amaia Arribas-Urrutia
From a historical perspective and a prospective analysis, the article aims to understand the role of technologies and their impact on society through the postulates of media ecology. Through this meta-discipline, we delve into the rigorous review of different authors who see technologies as playing a prominent role in shaping the future because they not only influence the culture of societies, but also impact the course, advancement and meaning of history. The text focuses on the advantages and on the explanation of the risks of generative artificial intelligence, identifying eight critical scenarios: weaponization, disinformation, proxy games, weakening, blocking or withholding of value, unwanted emerging goals, deception and power-seeking behavior. Subsequently, CASI regroups them into four threats: malicious use, the AI race, organizational risks and uncontrolled AI. We end the by drawing on McLuhan’s reflections and stressing the need to scale back technologies when they have reached elevated levels of development to minimize their negative impact. Although artificial intelligence has not reached that state, there is a warning about the accelerated evolution and the need for AI literacy as a measure to face risks and threats, in a limited time before it is too late.
Keywords
artificial intelligence, media ecology, intelligent agents, McLuhan, risks, technologies