Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence are complicating our ability to discern reality
Anticipated this week, the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is expected to generate extensive media coverage, likely consumed through screens as a common mode of information intake. While technological advancements like smartphones have provided access to vast amounts of data, they have also blurred the lines between fact and fiction and truth and manipulation.
We are facing a reality crisis, where the technologies and platforms we have embraced have paradoxically eroded vital aspects of civil society, especially in politics. The barrage of images, videos, and memes related to the debate shared on social media – where over half of Americans consume news, according to Pew Research Center – might make us feel engaged, but have these tools truly made us better-informed citizens?
Our current technologies promote the adoption of new forms of mediated experiences, offering convenience yet possibly hindering our human interactions. Our grasp of reality has become disoriented in various ways, with more individuals distrusting their own experiences and creating insulated realities rather than engaging with the world around them. The idea that reality is a consensus is no longer universal, and our collective consciousness is evolving.
Following the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, a surge of conspiracy theories emerged, including absurd claims about the incident being a “false flag” operation to aid his re-election prospects. A survey by the Public Religion Research Institute revealed an increase in support for QAnon-related conspiracy theories, indicating a growing mistrust and confusion surrounding everyday experiences.
Although conspiracy theorists constitute a minority, the influence of social media interactions on real-world behavior cannot be overlooked. Many individuals find it challenging to distinguish between virtual and actual realities, often experiencing anxiety and disorientation after extended time online.
Personal technologies have enabled us to inhabit personalized realities, a concept explored by Daniel Boorstin in his book “The Image.” We now live in a pseudo-reality shaped by algorithm-driven experiences where authenticity is often vicarious and virtual, leading us to favor the virtual realm over genuine interactions.
The unintended consequences of our reliance on the Internet have given rise to a culture where reality competes with augmented and alternative forms of existence. While the new online world offers entertainment, it also poses a challenge to our understanding of what is real.
Technological advancements over the past two decades have not necessarily fostered greater social stability or moral progress. Many digital platforms and inventions have exacerbated negative aspects of human behavior, particularly evident in the realm of politics where serious policy discussions are overshadowed by performative acts on social media.
As AI tools become more sophisticated and individually targeted, our reality crisis may worsen, with scenarios like AI chatbots influencing political decisions or politicians enhancing charisma through real-time AI adjustments. It is crucial to safeguard human agency against the encroachment of technology to prevent further distortion of reality.
It is imperative to reassess our relationship with technology, not just in politics but across all aspects of life. Failure to do so may exacerbate our struggle to differentiate between reality and unreality, authentic human experiences and manufactured outrage.
Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, provides insight in her book “The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World” (W.W. Norton).
