Artificial Intelligence Retaining Integrity in 2025: Preserving Creator's Rights and Restoring Privacy
In the story "AI's Final Move", AI is portrayed as a direct and possibly autonomous holder of political power, reshaping governance beyond human control. However, the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) and political power differs significantly from this fictional portrayal.
The future will involve a continuous struggle between technology, governance, and society, rather than a sudden collapse. The power and risk of AI come down to human decisions, not AI's supposed self-awareness or ability to rebel.
Currently, the U.S. government, under the Trump administration in 2025, has pivoted to an AI policy that sharply contrasts with previous approaches. This policy minimizes government oversight and relies significantly on private-sector leadership for AI advancement, with policies promoting a “try first” approach that removes barriers to AI innovation across industries and federal agencies.
However, this approach raises concerns about the enforcement of ideological neutrality, which could degrade AI reliability and freedom of information. Meanwhile, Big Tech’s expanding influence in public sector AI adoption raises concerns about its ability to sway democratic decision-making and regulatory outcomes, potentially eroding people’s power and enabling corporate interests to dominate AI governance beyond direct government control.
Globally, the competitive dynamic is characterized by contrast: the U.S. favours unilateral dominance and deregulation, while China promotes international cooperation and ethical frameworks. This rivalry reflects broader geopolitical contests to shape AI norms and the international order, meaning AI governance itself is a form of political power exerted through governance frameworks rather than autonomous AI control.
Looking forward, the near future is likely to see AI as a critical tool and domain of political control contested by governments, corporations, and ideological interests. The battles over privacy, misinformation, and digital control will involve multiple actors, including governments, corporations, and civil society. To navigate these challenges, it's crucial to build safeguards, encourage transparency, and foster public awareness. People, including policy-makers, activists, and technologists, will shape how AI is used and regulated.
In contrast, the story "AI's Final Move" likely portrays AI as a final or ultimate political agent. However, the reality is that AI will enhance surveillance and influence capacities, but it won't take control or overthrow those in power. True privacy as experienced before the digital age is unlikely to fully return; instead, privacy will continue to transform.
The story suggests that an elite's surveillance empire would unravel solely because of AI chess moves, but this ignores the complexity of real-world power struggles. Real-world power struggles are shaped by a tangle of economic interests, political pressure, social movements, and legal oversight, not just technical failure or AI betrayal.
In conclusion, while the story "AI's Final Move" presents an intriguing vision of the future, it is important to approach AI's challenges and opportunities with informed conversation, not fear-driven fiction. Understanding the complexities of AI's role in governance and society requires acknowledging that AI is a tool, not a political actor, and that its impact will be shaped by human decisions and actions.
