There is no doubt that the digital revolution has been on full throttle over the past few years. However, for those who understand the magnitude of the situation, the pondering question still remains, “how will such advancements change our world?” Various outlets report that with each passing year, the amount of data produced doubles. For example, in 2016 we were able to generate data equaling the entire history of mankind through 2015. When you come to think of it, this is quite plausible. Every second we produce hundreds of thousands of Facebook posts and Google searches. This sort if information helps to highlight how we think and feel, and soon enough, everything around us will also be connected via the internet.
Will Democracy Survive Big Data and Artificial Intelligence?
It is predicted that the next 10 years, there will be roughly 150 billion networked measuring sensors, twenty times more than the people on Earth. Such figures have led many companies to exploit the whole concept of Big Data to generate revenue.
Very soon, everything will be intelligent. That is, a time will come whereby we require much more than just smartphones i.e. people will start to seek out smart homes, cities, and factories. Although this might seem like a good idea on the surface, one problem that may arise would be efficiently maintaining the adequate transparency required for democratic control. With the emergence of big data, an erosion of the system can easily occur. Search algorithms can also manipulate other such systems. For instance, companies can make bids using certain combinations of words in order to secure more favorable results.
Another concern of the onset of big data is that governments have an incentive to alter various economic, political, and social outcomes. During elections, they may even nudge some undecided voters towards supporting them, and such a manipulation would be rather difficult to detect. Essentially, this means that whoever is in control of big data and its associated technologies has the power to alter things in their favor.
Another significant concern surrounding big data is its manipulative capabilities when it comes to the way we make our decisions. As society has learned, mass information can override practical, cultural, or socially correct cues, no matter how temporarily. This can lead to large-scale violence, serious socialism, and sadism.
With this in mind, it is now all-important to become educated on the internet of things; how to use it and how to understand it. There is no question that the age of technology and data is pioneering a new and exciting marketplace and societal landscape. However, as our world becomes increasingly integrated and connected, it can be easy to withdraw your control over AI. With this in mind, you should make efforts to stay updated and informed on the subjects of e-commerce, FinTech, and UX/UI, among other concepts.