By Francisco Gomes Junior,
lawyer specializing in digital law
One of the consequences of the digital age and social media was to create instant experts in the most varied subjects, in addition to several fads without significant utility. An example, which has become a cliché, is the publication of texts about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and at the end mentioning that the content was written by ChatGPT or another type of boot, this to demonstrate that we are already confused between human and AI production. Well, this text has an author, it’s original, and it doesn’t have any contribution from AI, it’s an old-fashioned text, like the Incas and Mayans did. The concept of specialist is also old-fashioned, as someone who studied, graduated in a certain subject, perfected until he specialized in the subject. It is necessary to clarify this point, at a time when, in one week we have thousands of specialists in judicial judgments of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) or the STF (Federal Supreme Court) and the following week these same opiners become specialists in geopolitics of Eastern Europe.
Nothing against random opinions, everyone has the right to express themselves. But, don’t give the weight of an expert to an opinion based on achisms or passions. In this context, it is important to clarify important points about artificial intelligence, undoing myths that have been repeated to exhaustion and confirming true aspects.
We are already living in the era of artificial intelligence, it is present in our daily lives, whether when we carry out a Google search, when we shop on Amazon, when we use Smart TVs, among many other examples that we could mention. That is, when we say that AI will occupy our spaces in the future, we are facing the first untruth, it is already among us and developing rapidly so that in a short time we will have, for example, autonomous cars and the Metaverse.
With her in mind, let’s analyze the most mentioned points about her:
AI will generate unemployment, replacing human activity in many fields with robots. This statement is true, there will be such a replacement and there is an urgent need for everyone who can to become qualified to the fullest in the use of AI and develop skills that make them non-replaceable in their activities;
AI can generate fake news and spread untruths that harm society. It is a generic phrase and needs a better explanation. When radio was the great vehicle of communication, Orson Wells, the famous film director of films like Citizen Kane, made a broadcast through CBS in 1938 announcing an alien invasion. The news was obviously false, but it generated a great uproar and social commotion. Would the transmission vehicle, the radio, be to blame for fake news? Or how it was used? And following the progress of technology, untruths have been spread through television, the internet and more recently through social media. AI is yet another technological advance that will bring a series of benefits to our lives, but like all other means, it will be subject to misuse, which must be fought. But it is not correct to generate a social panic with the information that AI will be a fake news factory;
AI will make it possible for scammers to develop new types of fraud. Another tricky assertion. Scammers always improve and follow the evolution of technology, it is not AI that will create new frauds;
The development of AI must be stopped so that we can establish rules for its evolution. When faced with such a statement, one should always check who defends such a position and whether there is exemption or self-interest. A great tycoon defended the suspension for six months and actually wanted his company, lagging behind others, to match them in the development stage. Any declaration of suspension would hardly be anything more than a mere formality.
It remains evident that AI is a reality and will be increasingly present in everyone’s lives. In a scenario like this, the best answer you can give is to study, using the tools at your disposal (from free videos on Youtube and other platforms to specific courses for those who are able) and prepare. Educational information is always the best weapon against exaggerated prophecies from weekend experts and against scammers.
Francisco Gomes Junior – Lawyer Specialist in Digital Law. President of the Association for the Defense of Personal and Consumer Data (ADDP). Author of the book “Justice without Limits”. Instagram: @franciscogomesadv
