Editor’s note: WRAL TechWire welcomes today Stefan Youngblood – an entrepreneur and thought leader on artificial intelligence – as its newest contributing columnist. Stefan writes about emerging AI issues, filling a need for expertise in this rapidly growing sector of the global economy.
Stefan Youngblood (photo from his LinkedIn page)
“As Founder of both HireBlack.com, and Help Anyway, a non-profit based in Raleigh with a global stretch, I specialize in connecting individuals and companies across socioeconomic and demographic barriers to promote diversity, equity, and social progress,” he says. “I use my platform to build networks and partnerships that drive positive change in communities and organizations. My global experience and cross-cultural skills using trending tech (ChatGPT, AI, Metaverse…) uniquely position me for developing diverse networks for social good. I also specialize in digital educating and training individuals on maximizing digital tools in entrepreneurship. With a passion for creating a more just and equitable world, I am constantly seeking new opportunities to make a difference and drive social impact.”
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RALEIGH – In this not too distant future, the year 2030, technology and AI have evolved to become integral companions in a child’s life.
Many children, having spent large portions of their time interacting with bots and digital interfaces, start to experience a unique set of mental health issues.
One of the most prominent issues is known as the “Digital Echo Syndrome.” Children afflicted with this condition begin to exhibit a remarkable replication of the AI’s speech patterns, logical processing, and even its emotional responses, or lack thereof. This could range from speaking in an overly formal, algorithmic manner, to struggling to understand or express complex human emotions due to the AI’s inherent limitations.
A related condition is “Cybernetic Solitude”. Children who primarily interact with AI may start to feel isolated and detached from their human peers. The predictability and non-judgmental nature of AI make it comforting, but it lacks the human nuances, spontaneity, and unpredictability, leading to difficulties in social interaction and bonding.
“Virtual Reality Disassociation” could become prevalent as well. As the line between reality and digital interaction blurs, some children may struggle to discern what’s real from what’s virtual, leading to disassociation, confusion, and anxiety.
Lastly, we have “Sensory Input Overload”. With AI’s customized content generation capabilities, children could become used to a constant barrage of hyper-personalized digital stimuli. This could result in an inability to cope with ‘normal’ pace and scale of information in the physical world, leading to anxiety and hyperactivity disorders.
While AI has the potential to offer tremendous benefits, these imagined scenarios emphasize the importance of balancing digital and human interaction, teaching digital literacy, and promoting mental health from early ages. Be sure of this, the mind remains a complex, delicate, and beautifully human domain.
My goal for prompting/writing these types of thoughts is to make every parent and educator aware of unseen possibilities ahead in AI.
This post was originally published at: https://medium.com/@stefan_11852/hey-ai-got-plans-for-2030-cd518e48b158
