Source URL: https://algorithmwatch.org/en/a-year-of-challenging-choices-2024-in-review/
Source: AlgorithmWatch
Title: A Year of Challenging Choices – 2024 in review
Feedly Summary: 2024 was a “super election" year and it marked the rise of generative Artificial Intelligence. With the adoption of the AI Act, it seemed poised to be the moment we finally gained control over automated systems. Yet, that certainty still feels out of reach.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses the influence of generative AI on democracy and civil liberties during the 2024 elections globally, focusing on the portrayal of politicians, the accuracy of AI models, and concerns over biometric surveillance. It highlights the regulatory landscape shaped by the EU’s AI Act and the societal impact of generative AI, especially concerning security and civil rights.
Detailed Description:
– **Generative AI’s Role in Elections**: The text examines the use of generative models in political contexts, revealing biases like the portrayal of female politicians. Accuracy issues with different AI text models (e.g., GPT 3.5 and Copilot) are highlighted, showing a significant percentage of inaccuracies and the consequent actions taken by companies like Microsoft to improve model performance.
– **Biometric Surveillance and Civil Liberty Concerns**: The push for biometric identification technologies in public spaces raises concerns about civil rights abuses—specifically, under the EU’s AI Act, which permits post-remote identification with minimal justification. Instances of these technologies leading to wrongful arrests demonstrate potential abuses.
– **Risk Assessment of Non-AI Systems**: There’s a notable distinction in the regulatory scrutiny between AI and non-AI systems, where the latter often evade high-risk status despite causing significant harm, as seen in the flawed scoring systems affecting marginalized groups.
– **Global Context of AI in Security**: The deployment of generative and surveillance technologies is not limited to Europe; there are alarming instances of AI applications in warfare and border control, raising ethical questions about their usage by governments.
– **Environmental and Labor Concerns**: The environmental impact of generative AI is brought to light, with significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions attributed to data centers that support these technologies. Additionally, ethical considerations are raised about the exploitation of workers involved in training AI systems.
– **Political Interference and Big Tech**: The relationship between technology companies and political dynamics is scrutinized, emphasizing how corporate interests can shape democratic outcomes and the potential risks associated with AI’s integration into governance.
This analysis illustrates the multifaceted challenges posed by the intersection of AI technologies, security policies, and civil rights, making it relevant for professionals in the security, compliance, and governance sectors.