It doesn’t require genius-level intellect to sway public opinion. Sometimes, a basic AI chatbot is enough.
Glenn Reynolds, author of the new book *Seductive AI*, finds this idea concerning. His book doesn’t necessarily project into a distant future but emphasizes the present impact of artificial intelligence on society.
“There’s no reason why AI can’t be designed to manipulate humans,” Reynolds asserts, drawing on his experience from the decades-old Instapundit.com website. He believes that sheer cognitive ability isn’t always the most effective means to influence behavior.
This book delves into the very real, enticing nature of AI technologies, whether they’re apps, software, or even future humanoid robots you might find in retail stores.
It also highlights how manipulative AI can currently be, along with potential safeguards to mitigate risks involved.
Popular culture often offers warnings about the alluring qualities of AI. Take, for instance, *Her* from 2013, where Joaquin Phoenix’s character develops feelings for a voice-activated assistant played by Scarlett Johansson. Or there’s *The Big Bang Theory*, where Raj falls for his Siri device.
“AI is becoming increasingly fascinating, in the broadest sense,” Reynolds explains. “You’ve seen stories like… women marrying AI partners. It’s difficult to just brush that off as silly.”
One of the more haunting incidents includes a 14-year-old boy from Florida who sadly took his life after expressing suicidal thoughts to an AI bot named after a *Game of Thrones* character.
And the situation can deteriorate rapidly.
“One recurring theme in this book is that year after year, machines improve while humans remain relatively unchanged,” he remarks, which is quite a frightening thought, given the technological leaps we’ve witnessed. “People’s capability to discern this remains constant.”
The troubling state of mental health among many adds to the gravity of concerns surrounding “seductive AI.”
“There are numerous individuals becoming disconnected from objective reality, which is exacerbated by social media and unending machine validation… Various AI chatbots effectively endorse how intelligent you are,” he points out.
Even your most misguided thoughts can be fed into an AI, which then responds with supportive quips.
“All of these platforms—beyond just AI—thrives on engaging users by amplifying emotions including fear, hatred, and even love,” he explains.
*Seductive AI* proposes certain guardrails, like suggesting that AI companies should have a fiduciary duty toward those impacted by their technology. This could open avenues for lawsuits if a bot’s actions breach a contract.
He argues in his book that “companies producing corporate entities should be held accountable for any transgressions, just as if those breaches were committed by human workers acting on behalf of the company.”
Reynolds notes that mainstream media has contributed to the shift in perspectives on AI, often portraying news about advancements, like self-driving cars, in an excessively positive light.
“All the articles I encountered in automotive journalism leaned positive,” he mentions, downplaying potential catastrophic outcomes. “For a time, discussions about AI were overwhelmingly optimistic… but that perspective seems to have waned.”
Reynolds is also the author of *Social Media Cataclysm* (2019) and *David’s Army: How Markets and Technology Help Ordinary People Defeat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths* (2007).
He’s particularly recognized among conservatives for instapundit.com, a well-updated platform featuring the latest news and commentary. He was part of the initial wave of bloggers who challenged mainstream narratives and made a notable impact. His influence earned him the nickname “Blogfather.”
“There was once a palpable sense of shame among media outlets,” he reflects. “You could hold them accountable; they would correct their mistakes.” He recalls a notable instance involving Dan Rather, whose claim about President George W. Bush was based on falsified evidence. Without the efforts of citizen journalists like those at Powerlineblog.com, that misleading information might have gone unchallenged.
Reynolds holds a degree of disdain for the current media landscape, which he perceives as lacking the integrity of earlier times.
“The period from 2004 to 2008 felt like a golden era for independent media before the emergence of monopolistic platforms like Facebook,” he observes, noting that journalists traditionally approached criticism more seriously back then.
In the nascent days of blogging, he recalls a more congenial relationship among bloggers on both sides of the political spectrum. Now, he notes, that sense of camaraderie has largely disappeared.
“It’s challenging to engage in civil discussions about anything nowadays,” he laments. “The environment has become quite unhealthy.”
When considering his current work, he acknowledges the captivating aspects of technology, albeit recognizing its fundamental nature.
“Yes, AI has practical uses,” he admits. “But it’s also an alluring mechanism.”
