AI Fear Could Limit Benefits to Privileged Few, Warns AI Equity Leader

Despite growing enthusiasm for AI, many people remain fearful of the technology, which could limit its benefits to a small, homogenous group, according to Miriam Vogel, president and CEO of EqualAI.

The potential consequences of AI fear: Vogel believes that if people avoid engaging with and using AI due to fear, it could lead to several negative outcomes:

• The benefits of AI may only reach a narrow segment of the population, rather than being widely accessible and inclusive.
• Fears about AI replacing humans, leaving people behind, or even threatening human survival could become self-fulfilling prophecies if not addressed.
• Vogel emphasizes the importance of getting more people to engage with AI “with eyes open” to ensure its benefits are widely distributed.

The importance of AI literacy: Vogel stresses the need for AI literacy programs to encourage more people to engage with the technology:

• Many people are unaware of how frequently they interact with AI in their daily lives, highlighting the need for education.
• AI literacy involves critical thinking skills, such as understanding false images and misinformation, not just computer science knowledge.
• While the federal government faces challenges in promoting AI literacy due to the decentralized nature of the American education system, Vogel believes Washington can establish standards to ensure “our kids are AI-ready.”

Obstacles to widespread adoption: Despite Vogel’s concerns, there are other factors contributing to the limited use of generative AI:

• Many people have yet to find compelling reasons to regularly use generative AI in their daily lives.
• AI companies’ mistakes and faulty products lend credence to people’s fears about the technology.

A crucial moment for inclusive AI: Vogel emphasizes that we have an opportunity to shape the future of AI and ensure that more communities participate in and benefit from its development:

• Inclusive participation in AI development can lead to better AI systems overall.
• Drawing on past inflection points, Vogel expresses confidence that humans will prevail and adapt to the challenges posed by AI.