How to navigate the world safely with AI

Data is the new oil, all information about us is Data, and AI loves Data! In fact, it feeds on Data, consumes it and needs it to grow, and we happily supply it, sometimes willingly sometimes unwittingly. In all scenarios our data is processed and supplied back to us in the form of accessibility, ease of business, comfort and convenience. That should be a win-win for both sides. Ideally, that is what is desired. However, we haven’t reached there yet!

AI engulfs us, it is pervasive, invasive and essential in today’s time. So, what is our relationship with AI today? for most part it is complicated, to put it simply!

AI is different from automation; automation imparts predefined tasks reducing human intervention while increasing efficiency, but AI incorporates machine learning and advanced algorithms, learns from data, adapts, evolves and enhances making decisions without explicit programming.

If you ask, ‘Where can we find AI?’, the answer is almost everywhere! When you use Virtual Assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa and Cortana they help with tasks, answer questions and control Smart Homes. They also come to understand you over time.

Social Media use AI powered algorithms. That is how your feeds are personalised, and you get suggestions based on them, they also detect harmful content.

AI can identify faces, objects, scenes in photos, enabling features like facial recognition and object detection.

AI powered Chatbots are used by big and small businesses alike. They handle customer inquiries and support in a human like manner. They use Natural Language Processing and Deep learning mimicking human responses and are already replacing human beings as virtual assistants due to their attributes of being hassle free and easier to manage.

AI uses Natural Language Processing in language translation apps and sentiment analysis tools.

Most people now understand that the predictive texting suggestions come from AI where it suggests words and phrases as you type them making communication faster and easier.

You must have also noticed that the online apps and OTT platforms which stream videos tend to suggest to you the kind of shows you usually watch. Same for online shopping, music streaming, AI knows your preferences and is assisting you to arrive at faster decisions without having to waste time to search. See, AI knows you.

But it’s also protective of you. It helps detect and prevent fraudulent transactions in finance and e-commerce, hence is an essential tool too.

AI is increasing its usability in healthcare. AI powered wearables and apps track fitness goals, monitor health metrics and provide personalised advice.

There are mixed opinions on its accuracy as far as diagnosis of diseases is concerned however much work is being done to try and include its predictive prognosis.

Self-driving cars and drones also depend on AI for navigation, obstacle detection and decision making.

Organizations use AI driven tools to detect and respond to cyber threats, enhancing online security.

AI plays a vital role in model AI Smart cities where it controls most automation.

Generative AI like ChatGPT, Gemini by Google, and similar help save time and efforts though the reliability of information can be challenging or inaccurate many times.

Generative AI is still evolving, and the quality of data determines its effectiveness and accuracy of results.

These are just a few applications, and we are coming up with more use cases every day. AI is going to play a huge part in the ‘Metaverse’ be it predictive analysis of Avatars or influencing decisions by leaving suggestive clues but that is a discussion for another time.

Keeping all this in mind one thing is apparent. We use AI and will be doing so continuously. Both in the real and virtual world. The threat then comes from how it uses our data and how safe we can keep it.

The threat also arises out of malfunctioning. Suppose AI powered traffic lights malfunction, they might cause severe accidents!

Another concern is the bias of the developer. Many times, the algorithms can carry forward the biases of the organisation developing them and that can have drastic effects. For example, if it favors one company or ethnicity of people or holds any other bias, then it can create unfair systems causing havoc and unrest in the society.

In case organisations use unclean or polluted data for data analysis, the output is bound to give false outcomes. This can result in organizations making wrong decisions and hence losing large amounts of investments!

Deepfakes are a very serious concern today and have the power to convincingly promote falsehood to the extent of overturning regimes or governments. On personal level it has the power to destroy lives due to the mental and emotional trauma caused by impersonation and fake representation.

While we can use AI to assist us it does pose serious question on Intellectual Property Rights when it is used to make ART, draw images, or write a Story and the result can be accused of plagiarism.(Midjourney, DALL-E2)

So then where do we go from here? Since we must live together, why not mitigate the dangers as best as possible. Awareness and self-education hold the key. By now it is clear that we need each other. We cannot isolate ourselves, but we can surely protect ourselves. By using smart navigation, we can protect our interests while enjoying the benefits of AI.

Here is a list of a few advises by Industry experts for better personal data security:

We can and should use 2FA which is 2Factor Authentication for our online accounts as much as possible to ensure an added layer of security. 

We must use apps and platforms that offer end-to-end encryption for secure data transmission.

We can review and adjust privacy settings for each AI app, limiting data collection and sharing.

We can revoke unnecessary permissions for AI app, this will restrict access to your device features.

Research AI apps before installation, reading reviews and understanding data handling practices.

Regularly review and remove unused AI apps, reducing potential vulnerabilities.

Implement device-level security measures, such as firewalls and antivirus software.

Always understand the terms and conditions of apps knowing what data is collected and how it is used.

We can use VPNs, which are Virtual Private Networks and they encrypt internet traffic and mask IP addresses.

We should use AI-powered security tools like password managers to enhance protection.

We need to curb our habit of over sharing personal information online especially sensitive data. Privacy-focused browsers like Brave, DuckDuckGo and Tor prioritise user privacy.

We can also disable location sharing in device settings to prevent data collection. It is advisable to use AI powered privacy tools like Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin to block trackers.

It is important to use a secure cloud storage with robust security and encryption.

Most importantly, we need to stay aware of data protection best practices and update software and apps regularly!

Information is therefore the key to enlightenment and safety. Data protection is an ongoing effort hence we need to stay vigilant and take control.

Big organisations according to Forbes are using AI for fraud management and cybersecurity. Hence, while AI holds much value, we need to control the switch to plug the loopholes and stay smarter than the smartest AI. After all, while AI consumes our Data to grow stronger and robust, we consume its productivity. All that we need to ensure is that we share only relevant data and the data we share is protected and used responsibly.

Managing AI intelligently empowers us and helps us work along with it rather than avoid or fight it. We made it and we just need to keep a control over it.

We are still the Masters of the Universe; rest is all just Maths!