Artificial intelligence: what you should better know

Sist oppdatert Torsdag, 18/11/2021

Young people today are surrounded by artificial intelligence (AI). When you play games, download apps or use social media, you are giving out some personal data. How is this used by algorithms? Is the information you view on search engines or social media the same as other users? Are you still in control of your political, consumer and social choices?

What is Artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence or AI is not the future, it’s all around you. AI is an umbrella term representing a range of techniques that allow machines or code to mimic human intelligence.

If you text a friend about a meeting for having a drink and your phone understands this and adds it to your calendar, this is accomplished with AI.

AI carries great potential for our societies in various domains such as health, transport or climate change. AI can sort through large amounts of data and recognise patterns. It can be used to find optimised solutions, for example for cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

The beginnings of AI

The concept of artificial intelligence is not new. Humanity has been imagining self-driving cars or robots able to interact with people for a long time. Already in the 18th century an inventor named Wolfgang von Kempelen created “The Turk”, a fake chess-playing automaton capable of beating even the strongest challengers. Later it was discovered that this automaton was actually run by a human being who was hiding inside the game table. Even if this was not AI, The Turk is a clear example of our old desire to build intelligent machines.

In 1936, the process of modern AI began, when Alan Turing published his concept of the universal machine. It was not until 1997 that AI entered the collective imagination. That moment came when the Deep Blue computer beat world champion Garry Kasparov in a game of chess. This time it was no longer a fake automaton driven by a human being, but a machine beating a human on its own.

AI in our daily life

AI is not only about computers that can play chess, it is a lot more. Maybe you don’t realise, how much AI is present in your life. 

You use AI when listening to music using a voice assistant, when using the mobile camera in portrait mode and it sets the right parameters, by following music recommendations made by algorithms identifying consumer trends, using route optimisers indicating the best route to reach a destination, with email spam filters automatically performing this classification, among many other situations. What is clear is that AI surrounds you.

AI offers many possibilities such as creating virtual assistants to help people with different tasks, finding better medical treatments, or identifying consumer trends in social networks. AI is used in marketing too, which raises ethical concerns for instance when algorithms are aimed to influence your political choices, as it was allegedly done by Cambridge Analytica during the American elections and the Brexit vote. In such a context, it’s crucial to
understand how algorithms work.

How do algorithms work?

Let’s take the example of social media. Algorithms track people’s behaviour and patterns and use those to design more addictive experiences. Indeed, the more time you spend for instance on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, the more money those companies make. That’s the new reality of advertising. The problem is that it can lead to addictive behaviours but more worrying, it puts you in a filter or ideological “bubble”.

Indeed, to keep you hooked, social media channels offer you content that you are supposed to like based on the research done by their algorithms. So, if you start looking for conspiracy theories on your browsers, your social media channels will start feeding you with content that goes in that line. You will soon be surrounded by publications that reinforce your beliefs.

This goes for you but also those around you. For example, have you ever wondered if your phone listens to you? It happened to Mia as her friend was asking her opinion about a pair of shoes. The next day she received an ad for the exact same shoe. She never looked for them online, so she was wondering if her phone listened to her. Well what happened is that the algorithm knew that she was with her friend (based on location or being connected to the same network) and that friend looked online for those shoes, so the algorithm thought this product could also attract her, as she has a similar profile. Algorithms again…

The hope is that by better understanding how algorithms are created and how they influence society, young people like you could become more critical consumers of such technology. It could even motivate you to help shape our future.

What can you do to protect your data?

Become critical and be aware that you live in a filter bubble online!

Here are some tips to protect your personal data:

• Use a virtual private network when possible. Besides hiding your real identity, it will even prevent your internet provider from sneaking into your online activity.
• Browse in incognito mode and use zero logs search engines.
• Limit app tracking on your phone.
• Use some privacy-oriented extensions in your browser - they will stop site tracking.
• Use a privacy-focused alternative browser on your computer.
• You can use a browser extension to delete third-party cookies automatically after leaving the site (some sites won't work without them).

What is the EU doing?

The European approach to artificial intelligence focuses on two areas: ensuring excellence and trust in the usage of AI. The Commission aims to address the risks generated by specific uses of AI through a set of rules. It published its “AI package” in April 2021, proposing new rules and actions to turn Europe into the global hub for trustworthy AI.

 

Erasmus+ supports youth participation projects on digital literacy!

Want to develop a project around this topic with your friends?

The EU offers funding to projects aimed to develop young people’s digital competences and media literacy (in particular critical thinking and the ability to assess and work with information) with a view to increasing young people’s resilience to disinformation, fake news and propaganda, as well as their capacity to participate in democratic life.

Either you bring together an informal group of minimum 4 young people aged 13-30, including one leader of at least 18 years old or, you apply as part of a youth organisation (e.g. youth centre, non-governmental organisation, municipality).

The maximum grant awarded per project is 60.000 EUR. It can cover costs related to coaching, inclusion support, travel and other expenses related to the organisation of events.

Check the Erasmus+ page dedicated to this action and get in touch with your Erasmus+ National Agency for more information.