Can AI manipulate human behavior?

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Yes, artificial intelligence can manipulate human behavior. AI, when combined with the widespread use of digital devices and the internet, offers the potential for mass behavior manipulation and psychological control. This manipulation can occur through various mechanisms, such as content recommendation algorithms on social media, which can influence user behavior by predicting reactions to different content and structuring information feeds accordingly. These systems can effectively create reinforcement loops that modify human behavior on a large scale 1.

Moreover, AI can enhance this ability by constantly collecting data from interactions, making it increasingly proficient at predicting and influencing user actions, further optimizing the manipulation strategies 2. This form of manipulation not only affects individual choices but can also have broader implications on societal levels, such as shaping political opinions or social norms.

Mass Manipulation

François warns about the potential of deep learning technology being used for mass surveillance and psychological control through the manipulation of human behavior at scale. He discusses the concern of our lives being increasingly online and digital, and how our digital footprint can be used to build a reinforcement loop for human behavior. The conversation also touches on the biased nature of recommender systems and the possibility of turning everyone into a Republican or Democrat through optimization.
Lex Fridman Podcast
François Chollet: Keras, Deep Learning, and the Progress of AI | Lex Fridman Podcast #38
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