The Gap is the abyss of the unknown between us as humans and exponentially evolving technology.
The Gap is what we either ignore or are not aware of and the bigger it gets, the more likely it is that we will fall. Once we fall, we compromise having choices.
The Gap is also perpetuated by our own biases, our (in)ability to critique and make decisions.
Alongside the technical evolution, there must be an equal increase in awareness, consciousness, and critique from us, the consumers.
There needs to be also a demand for transparency and accountability from the organisations implementing AI systems, so we can make conscious choices, protect the next generation and keep our individuality.
With increased awareness from us, the consumers, and pressure on the creators of the AI systems, a bridge can be built between the human and the technology side.
Choice is a fundamental human right. We are given options where to live, who to be friends with, what to study and do as a job. We have choices for products, services and ideologies. Of course, we can also question if we really have free will? Are we always swayed by an external force like the market, our social circle, inconspicuous (or not) advertising, even pure convenience. Perhaps we never really make unbiased choices. But we are still lucky enough to live in a world with options.
You can choose which toothpaste brand to buy every time. There is no severe consequence or effort in switching - maybe one is more expensive, you don’t like the taste of another or your favourite one is out of stock. You take another one, it’s ok. You have a choice.
Our relationship with technology must also come with choices. We must be able to choose based on what aligns with our values, expectations and needs. Even if it feels like going against the stream. And it pushes us out of the “conform” zone. This is how revolutions start.
Nowadays, you order books on Amazon, have email and docs with Google, your photos on some cloud (Apple, Google or Dropbox), you post happy and successful pictures on Instagram, text on WhatsApp, follow friends on Facebook and brag about your career on LinkedIn. But your choice is rather binary, it’s monopolised.
While there are other, more consumer friendly and respectful of your privacy, players in each market, few people are using them. The mental, social cost and effort of switching is enormous. You just don’t even think about it. It’s not toothpaste. You might drop out of your social network. You might miss out on employment opportunities. You might have to be a rebel and people look at you with a “what!?” blank face. You may even need to, gulp, pay something after having free things for…ever! These are hard choices.
So you stay where you are although there is a niggling feeling that you actually don’t like many of these companies or what they are doing. But you swallow your doubts and your discomfort as you feel you have no choice.
- What will happen if you delete your Facebook account? Is it so bad?
- What will happen if you change your default search engine to a more private one, at least for a few searches per day?
How about using a different email provider (that values privacy) when you order things online? At least take away this power from Google so they can’t profile you and target you for advertising based on your purchases.
Or even better - write to a company to ask them why you are being recommended a particular product? Can they explain it?
We are at the precipice of the Gap.
How can we build the bridge between humanity and technology (and instead of “big tech” we have “big society”!)?
By being aware, being loud, being critical and exercising our choices, even if they are hard.
We certainly don’t want to fall off the edge and lose the luxury of having choices.
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