The Worrying Convergence: Are We Automating 1984?
Written by human, reviewed and slightly revised by AI – I love tech. But a train of thought that keeps coming back to me is the emergence of populist parties and authoritarian leaders, combined with the power of increased surveillance, digitization, and automation.
If you’ve read George Orwell’s 1984 describing a totalitarian society, or Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 where firefighters burn books, I would argue that we today see a risk for a far more worrying convergence.
## A New Kind of Dystopia
The convergence I see is that of AI, automation, digitisation, “fake news,” and authoritarian parties gaining support.
We now see leaders in diverse countries challenge courts and the democratic process, where journalism, scientific facts, and tolerance of differing opinions are no longer guaranteed.
The thing that worries me here is that these same powers now have access to a digitised society, AI, and automation. This allows surveillance, as well as the production of false facts and “alternate facts,” on a scale never before observed.
## The Small, Everyday Perspective
This isn’t just happening “out there”; it’s in our daily lives.
At work, we now transcribe meetings, always asking everyone if it’s okay. But who would say no in such a situation?
(I am curious to test this as an experiment. I will post it as one here… if I dare to do it.)
Is it only positive that all we say and do at work is stored, possible to go back and analyse?
Will it be possible to be a public figure in the future, where you cannot do, say, or look the wrong way at any time, since it will be recorded and made public? Will the few persons willing to cope with this even be representative for – well – people?
## A Return to Purpose?
I do see a lot of promise in technology and in the AI revolution. But I feel we do not talk enough about questions like these.
The positive thing here is that some of the “big” societal questions might come back in fashion. To build a common purpose and direction in society, that conversation is not just healthy—it’s essential. Maybe we can see a discourse, shift and acceptance of politicians and leaders that sometimes make mistakes – who knows?