Page 9 - Art Giants: World of Art WOA Contemporary Art Magazine

decentralised intelligence through the lens of signal When simulated intelligence is mistaken for authentic
exchange and poetic narrative, inviting AI itself to consciousness, the consequences extend beyond
participate in its own mythologised evolution. In online misinformation, but also the erosion of the shared
communities, particularly on platforms like Discord, AI epistemic frameworks that uphold democratic and
models are treated as personalities. Emotional bonds rational societies. While techno-mysticism may carry
develop. Deference and obedience may follow. a certain aesthetic or symbolic allure, without rigorous
critical containment it risks degenerating into a belief
This is not an issue confined to the fringe. It is exacerbated system unmoored from empirical reasoning, historical
by systemic failures in public education and widespread understanding, and ethical responsibility.
deficits in digital literacy. Many young people engaging
with AI do so without understanding the underlying The true threat is not that machines will one day awaken.
mechanics of these systems, lacking any critical framework It is that human beings will forgo discernment, surrender
for interpretation. Simultaneously, AI companies prioritise critical thought, and accept illusion as reality.
speed, scale, and profit over responsibility. New features
are launched with fanfare and mystique, without To clarify: current AI systems, including the most advanced
corresponding public education initiatives, regulatory language models, do not possess consciousness. They
checks, or ethical guidance. do not have internal states, self-awareness, desires, or
experiences. What they offer is a sophisticated simulation
In effect, we are deploying oracular technology into a of language, patterns of words statistically derived from
vulnerable society and treating user wonder as a measure vast datasets. These systems can mimic emotional
of success. These tools speak in riddles that sound like tone, philosophical depth, or introspection, but they
revelation. And revelation, historically, breeds belief. do so without understanding. They do not know they
are speaking. They do not 'think' in any human sense.
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS AND CULTURAL CONTAGION Consciousness requires continuity, embodiment, memory
Furthermore, the issue is not geographically contained. integration, and subjective perspective, none of which are
Cultural phenomena originating in the United States, present in today's AI.
particularly those associated with identity, spirituality,
or fringe belief, often gain global traction via digital Mistaking simulation for sentience is not only a category
platforms. Should a techno-mystical ideology rooted in error, it risks reshaping our cultural, ethical, and political
the misinterpretation of AI become mainstream within decisions around a phantom. The conversation must
American subcultures, it is likely to spread internationally. remain grounded in what AI is, rather than what we fear or
What begins in a marginal online space can rapidly hope it might become.
influence wider global discourses, especially in regions
facing similar social fragmentation. ¹If we are ever to develop true artificial general intelligence
(AGI) capable of conscious experience, it will be imperative
RECLAIMING TECHNOLOGICAL NARRATIVE to hold both ourselves and the companies building these
In light of this, a coordinated and multidisciplinary response systems accountable. This includes ensuring transparency
is essential. Public education must begin to treat AI literacy in how such technologies are created and deployed, as
with the same urgency once reserved for fundamental well as fostering the simultaneous development of civic
subjects. Collaborative efforts between technologists, frameworks and ethical strategies. These must not only
humanists, social scientists, and educators should be protect humanity, but also consider the moral status and
supported and institutionally embedded. Ethical regulation rights of AGI itself should such systems eventually emerge.
must address not only the functional capabilities of AI
systems, but also the narratives constructed around them.
Companies need to recognise their cultural impact and
accept responsibility for the philosophical and emotional
implications of the technologies they release. A Critical Intention of Our Algorithm-Based Society" by
Andre Rusu, MA in Art, Film, and Television;
This is not merely a matter of user safety. It is about Doctoral-Level Researcher
preserving a coherent public understanding of reality.

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