Navigating the Ethical Quandaries of AI: Addressing Misuse and Shaping its Future

~By Vani Jain

In a world increasingly shaped by technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence stands out

as both strengths and weaknesses. As nations harness the power of AI for economic growth,
national security, and societal improvement, a pressing question comes to mind, AI holds the
promise of transforming our world, but are we adequately prepared to address its dark side?

As humans move into an era where technology increasingly defines our reality. Deepfakes are
part of this process. They represent fake videos or images made utilizing AI algorithms which
are rather very successful in spreading lies, manipulating public opinion, and impacting
negatively on democratic processes.

People who champion deepfakes argue that they have the potential to transform entire industries
such as movies and music. They can insert actors into scenes or bring back deceased stars
through a combination of AI technologies. However, some people see its downside; they believe
that deepfakes could be used maliciously such as in politics and communication with public
audiences. It should be noted that there were instances when deepfakes spread misinformation,
damaged the reputations of celebrities, or evoked vicious deeds while others will argue that we
need specific regulations so as to stop this from happening. In my opinion, Artificial intelligence
is not a substitute for human intelligence; it is a tool to amplify human creativity and ingenuity.

The delegate of India remarked that their country has implemented the Digital Personal Data
Protection Act 2023 which protects against the misuse of personal. Yet still in November of
2023, a viral video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) featuring what appeared to be popular
actress Rashmika Mandanna in sportswear entering an elevator. It generated a lot of debate on
social media platforms; on one side, people criticized the outfit as outrageous, while the other
group defended the clothing choice.

The delegate of Israel mentioned that the country has been using AI for defense even though the
research shows that the Israeli military’s bombing campaign in Gaza used a previously
undisclosed AI-powered database known as “The Gospel” and “Lavender”. The AI database at
one stage identified 37,000 potential targets based on their apparent links to Hamas, according to
intelligence sources involved in the war. Israel’s use of powerful AI systems in its war on Hamas
has entered uncharted territory for advanced warfare, raising a host of legal and moral questions,
and transforming the relationship between military personnel and machine.

The delegate of China mentions that the Chinese use AI for many purposes in media,
manufacturing systems, emergency systems, advertising systems, marketing systems, and
financial systems but reports show that China has been using biological weapons and brain
warfare to strike terror in other nations.. is it possible they can use this technology to take over
the world market???
The delegates at the conference majorly talked about these laws:-
Laws for AI: Many countries make rules for AI. They want to keep data private, make
algorithms clear, be responsible, and keep AI safe. The EU's GDPR law is for data in AI.
Countries also make goals and plans for AI rules.

Ethics for AI: Groups work on good rules for AI. They talk about fairness, clearness, being
responsible, and making AI for people. Like, IEEE works on being good with AI. Montreal
Declaration is for good AI too.

Education and Awareness: Governments are promoting AI literacy among their people so that
they can comprehend and utilize artificial intelligence effectively. Such activities include
introducing syllabi related to AI in schools, and organizing programs on AI for professionals
while at the same time educating the public about what they can gain from this new technology.
Enacts the Act on Artificial Intelligence Regulation designed to set out the legal framework for
applications in artificial intelligence addressing subjects such as data protection and privacy
accountability among others.

All the delegates also talked about the UN implementing laws.

Even though all these laws make a lot of sense, there is a lack of implementation from the
government side… Research proves that in China, AI-powered surveillance systems track
citizens' every move, raising concerns about privacy and individual freedoms. Meanwhile, in
Russia, sophisticated AI algorithms are used to manipulate public opinion, undermining the
integrity of democratic processes. The United States faces its challenges, with AI employed in
predictive policing, sparking debates about bias and civil liberties. In my opinion, the quantity of
laws made doesn’t matter until there is a qualitative response to even one of them. As Bill Gates
said, "More laws do not guarantee justice; it is the application of the right law that ensures
fairness in the age of AI."

You know, when I think about AI, I can't help but feel excited about what it brings to the table.
It's like having a super-smart assistant by your side, one that never gets tired or makes mistakes
because it can process heaps of information faster than you can blink. Imagine how much easier
it makes our lives! AI is like a silent hero, always working behind the scenes to make things
better for us. But on the other hand, some facts about AI scare me like, what if AI is misused to
make my photos on the internet look inappropriate, or identity theft? So let’s make this world a
better place by following the laws set by the government so the future generation doesn’t have to
be scared to even share their picture on social media.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead