'Can't Let A Few Algorithms Decide What Future Of Nation Should Be': Educator Vijender Singh Chauhan Warns Against AI At Ideas Of India 3.0

Ideas Of India 2024: "The biggest worry right now is that the power to make a decision has been snatched away from people [by AI]," said Professor Vijender Singh Chauhan.

Mumbai: Artificial intelligence (AI) is slowly becoming the most polarising technological advancement since the advent of the Internet and social media. Not only is it dividing industries and individuals on its impacts, but it is also shaping the way we think before making a choice. At the ongoing Ideas Of India Summit 3.0, the third edition of ABP Network's flagship discourse event, Vijender Singh Chauhan, Associate Professor, Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi, and Neetu Singh, Founder, KD Campus & KD Live, Author and English Teacher discussed the impact of AI and social media algorithms on the minds of students and their parents. 

According to Chauhan, algorithms are thoroughly impacting the thoughts and eventually the decision-making process of regular users by constantly projecting posts and advertisements that they think are suitable for the viewers. "The biggest worry right now is that the power to make a decision has been snatched away from people," he said. 

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"AI on social media goes into a cyclic mode of showing similar content resulting in a persuasive technology that makes you believe that the dream you are being served online [via Reels or other posts] is actually your dream. We start accepting it as if this was our own free choice," said Chauhan. "This is affecting all our choices, from relationships and education to even career and politics. This is dangerous."

"We cannot let a few algorithms decide what the future of our nation should be," Chauhan added. 

Neetu Singh, in her signature candid-yet-cautious way, shared her thoughts on influencers. She warned that earlier there were stories of apsaras (angels) who would come down from heaven to disrupt the meditation of ancient sages. Now, those apsaras come out of Instagram instead. 

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AI Threat To Jobs

Singh underscored the importance of fostering an environment where young individuals can pursue their own ambitions rather than being burdened with the expectations of their parents. "Parents should refrain from imposing their dreams onto their children," she remarked. "However, it's crucial to boost job prospects for the youth. Today's generation is more informed and eager, but they require ample opportunities."

Echoing similar sentiments, Chauhan shed light on the prevalent societal pressure faced by many young people, particularly those who are steered towards specific career paths by their parents. "Children shouldn't be treated as mere projects of their parents," emphasised Singh. "We often encounter youth who are pushed into prestigious institutions like Kota, IIT, and IIM, fulfilling their parents' aspirations rather than their own."

Moreover, Chauhan voiced concerns regarding the future of employment, highlighting the disruptive impact of advancing technology, notably AI. He warned that AI could potentially eliminate a significant portion of existing jobs within the next decade, necessitating a swift response from India's workforce. "The dreams of our nation's youth are becoming increasingly limited," cautioned Chauhan. "Approximately 70 per cent of them are engaged in occupations that might be obsolete due to AI within the next decade."

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The discussions underscored the urgent need for proactive measures to enhance job creation, encourage individual career choices, and equip the workforce with the necessary skills to adapt to emerging technologies, ensuring India's continued economic growth and prosperity.

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