AI Systematically Rewires the Flow of Ideas

Zhonghao He, Tianyi Qiu, Tao Lin, Moshe Glickman, Atoosa Kasirzadeh, John Wihbey, Max Kleiman-Weiner

Keywords: AI influence, Human-AI interaction, Social impact, Echo Chamber, Value Lock-in

TL;DR: AI exerts influence over the ideas of individuals and society, leading to negative outcomes that we may reverse by early interventions.

Abstract: As an epistemic technology, AI exerts influence over the ideas of individuals and society by acting as producer, mediator, and receiver of information. It impacts our collective knowledge, beliefs, and morality. In this position paper, we argue that there are mechanisms of hidden influence in AI development pipelines, which, when amplified by societal dynamics, could lead to dangerous outcomes that we may reverse by early interventions. We detail those mechanisms, amplifiers, and potential consequences in this paper.

Submission Type: Long Paper (9 Pages)

Archival Option: This is a non-archival submission

Submission Number: 46