Wise Guys and Smart Machines
摘要
Applying the analysis and argument for dignity and its conferring universal rights of freedom and well-being to users and data subjects of the ICT and AI technologies of Big Tech companies, a major issue identified under that topic, is that personalisation of subjects’ data by algorithms poses a threat to their autonomy and moreover to their digital identity. This poses an insidious and potentially crucial existential problem not just for data subjects but humanity generally, is the split of our personal identity into two separate identities: a group digital-identity controlled externally by AI algorithms, and our natural individual identity controlled internally by us as individuals, but whose autonomy, however, is also precariously under the systemic control of the Big Tech companies through their persuasive technologies enabled by their invasive algorithms. In this chapter this identity problem is referred to as the identity paradox. Crucially, this poses a significant existential problem, not just for data subjects but humanity generally. For the split of our identity into two separate identities: a group digital identity controlled externally by algorithms, and our natural individual identity controlled internally by us as individuals, but one whose autonomy, however, is also precariously under the systemic manipulative control of the persuasive technologies of the Big Tech companies. The chapter will examine and argue for the adoption of a eudaimonic Stoic and humanistic approach to AI technologies on the basis of wisdom towards the design and use of ICTs and AI technologies, and other emerging technologies in general, with the aim of: (a) ameliorating or at least minimising the negative and harmful impacts of technology on human well-being; (b) enhancing the design and uses of technology for the overall Eudaimonic Benefit of Humanity presently and in the future; (c) to ensure that those technologies are not under the exclusive control of the Big Tech companies that own and operate them for their primary gain and benefit, but under the shared societal control of citizens and their authorised democratic representatives and institutions, as individuals and collectively as societies, for the common good of citizens, as well as the global community.