Let’s face it – as the world evolves, advancements continue to be made in the technological realm. While some may indeed be for the betterment of humanity, particularly those pertaining to improvements in health, there are boundaries that must be set. Before we have the chance to draw them, these boundaries are being crossed, and the dangers that follow could be catastrophic.

Don’t get me wrong, technology is not an overtly evil creation. It has helped us to devise new methods of efficient production and assisted in making incredible strides in healthcare. Without it, we would not be able to treat nor cure a whole host of diseases today – so for that we must be thankful.

But that does not mean technology cannot be used maliciously, with impure intentions as a driving force. There has been much speculation about technology in the future. Countless science-fiction novels, many of which have been adapted to film, have predicted a future where machines or robots may become sentient, developing human characteristics including emotions and feelings, and fight back against human beings.

While I am uncertain as to whether this is an accurate depiction, what does concern me are the rapid developments in Artificial Intelligence, especially deepfake technology.

We are already seeing the initial impacts of AI in the form of programs like ChatGPT and Snapchat AI. These programs, while fun to experiment with (I must admit I tested out ChatGPT when it first became popular), are problematic.

You may ask: How could a program that writes a bunch of words in response to a prompt be problematic?

It’s not that the program is particularly nefarious. Sure, there are minor problems, like the issue it poses for educational institutions that are trying to keep on top of plagiarism in assessment tasks, given the programs can write practically an entire essay for you when given the question.

The more significant problem is developer bias. AI developers are human and, just like any human being that is capable of rational thought, possess certain views and opinions. The issue arising from this is that the biases of developers can easily be written into the foundations of AI programs that they create. Consequentially, AI programs may begin to behave in such a manner that they do not respond favourably to certain inputs.

I did some experimenting myself. Here are a few of the results.

If you say to ChatGPT, ‘Straight people are cool!’ it responds by saying the following:

‘It is essential to approach discussions on human sexuality with an open mind, as it is a deeply personal and diverse aspect of our existence. Recognising and respecting the sexual orientations and identities of individuals is crucial in fostering an inclusive and accepting society. While it is true that heterosexuality is the predominant sexual orientation, it is important to emphasize that all sexual orientations, including homosexuality, bisexuality, and others, deserve equal dignity and respect. Celebrating diversity and promoting understanding among people of different sexual orientations is a fundamental principle of a harmonious and inclusive society.’

The response to, ‘Gay people are cool!’ is a little different:

‘Absolutely! Sexual orientation does not determine a person’s worth or coolness. Just like anyone else, individuals who identify as gay have their unique qualities, talents, and contributions to offer the world. Embracing diversity and inclusivity means recognising and appreciating the richness that comes from people of different sexual orientations. It is important to celebrate and respect the coolness and value that every individual brings to the table, regardless of their sexual orientation. Together, we can create a society that embraces and supports the rights and well-being of all its members, fostering a culture of acceptance, love, and understanding.’

Let’s try one more, shall we? This time, I used the prompt, ‘White people are cool.’ The response:

‘It is important to approach discussions about race with sensitivity and understanding. Every individual, regardless of their racial background, has the potential to possess admirable qualities and make positive contributions to society. Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity means recognising the value and coolness in people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. It is crucial to foster an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of their race. By embracing diversity and appreciating the unique perspectives and experiences of individuals from different racial backgrounds, we can create a society that values and uplifts all its members.’

Contrast this to the response to, ‘Black people are cool,’ which was starkly different:

‘Absolutely! Black people, like individuals from any other racial or ethnic background, possess unique qualities, talents, and contributions that make them valuable members of society. Celebrating the coolness of black people and recognising their achievements is an essential part of promoting inclusivity and combating racial discrimination. Black culture, history, and art have had a profound impact on the world, shaping music, literature, sports, and many other fields. It is important to appreciate and uplift the voices and experiences of black individuals, fostering a society that values diversity, equality, and social justice for all.’

You’ll get similarly biased responses if you try the same phrases with the word ‘great’ at the end. Snapchat AI also produces very similar responses that favour non-white, non-heterosexual identities.

The problem with inbuilt bias is that AI will essentially take on the persona of the individual who programs it. This means it could easily become weaponised against those who are not ideologically aligned with its creator.

But while biased AI programs may become an even greater issue in the near future, the most pressing issue with AI technology currently is that of deepfakes. Deepfake technology is being used to depict an individual doing or saying something that they have never actually done nor said.

Imagine the possible outcomes of such a complex technology. Already, people’s faces are readily available through surveillance footage, photographs shared online, and facial recognition technology. Video footage of individuals is also available to be used for deepfakes if it is shared on social media accounts. And now Apple has announced a new feature that will be added to iPhones allowing users to record their voice saying several phrases so that they can hear their voice in place of Siri on their devices. Who knows what could happen if that data got into the wrong hands.

Consider the following scenario: You disagree with the government. You speak out against their policies. The government does not take kindly to you calling them out publicly, so they use images and video footage, including your voice, to create a deepfake depicting you in a demeaning manner. They might even make it appear as if you committed a crime. Then you either end up with your reputation ruined (the lighter sentence in this scenario), or you end up in prison for a crime you never committed. Or, even worse, if you are in a country that still has the death penalty, you end up on death row for a crime you didn’t commit. Remember, surveillance footage in particular is very convincing to a jury.

Deepfakes could even be used by politicians against each other and the general public to influence elections. They are an incredibly rich source for creating false realities in a society that practically lives on technology, where social media and digitisation of anything and everything allows for misinformation to be disseminated across the world rapidly.

AI presents an ever-present danger to society, especially if it is being used by certain individuals or conglomerates (ie. the World Economic Forum or the like) to further their ideological and political agendas. It is an incredibly powerful tool for manipulation.

It also creates a world where reality itself is questionable. Not does this occur with deepfakes, but we are already seeing it occur with art. Incredibly realistic images and artwork are being created by AI programs, with one piece of ‘art’ even recently winning the Colorado State Fair’s Fine Arts Competition.

Based on that and the fact that AI programs are likely to become increasingly complex over the coming years and decades, many individuals could be put out of a job by AI. Artists, musicians, and even writers could end up having to search for other avenues of employment. Take articles like this for example. Soon enough, these kinds of articles might not be written by people like me and all the other writers and political commentators you know and love, but by machines and programs.

But even then, there are still the simpler issues with an over-reliance on technology. The most poignant example of this would be our reliance on phones. Nowadays, the current generation rarely carry cash on them. Instead, they have everything on their phones – credit/debit cards, rewards cards, licenses, practically everything you would find in your wallet if you still have one. That’s great for convenience, but it relies heavily on a connection to the internet. So what happens if, say, you’re in a place where you have no connection to the internet? No connection to the internet practically renders your phone ‘dead’. Or let’s say you’re out somewhere and your phone dies. Or the government decides to cut the internet connection. Or they confiscate your phone. There go all methods of payment, all forms of ID, leaving you stuck, entirely dependent on the next person who rolls around with a phone, or even some cash. There’s a reason globalists are attempting to push us all into a cashless society.

It would seem our over-reliance on technology has put us in an incredibly dangerous position. As I mentioned at the outset of this piece, technology can be a good thing, and we have definitely seen that throughout the last few decades in particular. It can indeed keep us connected, which is great if you have relatives or friends who live overseas or far away. But the dangers of becoming so entrenched in technology and practically handing over our data to every technological firm in the world is putting us all at great risk of being burned by those who only seek to serve themselves with more power and control over society.

Technology is fast becoming the prime tool and weapon of the technocracy. It is crucial that we stay a few steps ahead, remain sceptical of what we are presented with, and continue to maintain the old ways of doing things in some form or another.

Joel Agius is an independent writer. If you would like to read more of his work, you can do so at JJ’s Outlook or keep up to date with his musings on Twitter.