AI may be advancing "digital neoliberalism" (Quote of the Week)

   "Quote of the Week" is leisure reading in the assignment reminder email to my students.

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"Yet neoliberalism is far from dead. Worse, it has found an ally in A.G.I.-ism, which stands to reinforce and replicate its main biases: that private actors outperform public ones (the market bias), that adapting to reality beats transforming it (the adaptation bias) and that efficiency trumps social concerns (the efficiency bias)."

Evgeny Morozov

June 30, 2023

The True Threat of Artificial Intelligence

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/opinion/artificial-intelligence-danger.html

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Neoliberalism persists robustly in the current socio-economic landscape. It is apparently bolstered by the burgeoning expectation in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The remarkable achievements of contemporary Artificial Intelligence, advancing towards AGI, seem to strengthen neoliberal ideology, amplifying its three tenets: market bias, adaptation bias, and efficiency bias.

The market bias implies an inherent superiority of private enterprises over public institutions. This position manifests itself when individuals involved in public matters innocently proclaim the superior problem-solving capabilities of AI. Undoubtedly, this is the case in many instances. However, an essential question to address is whether AI primarily serves the interests of the affluent alone. Vital public sectors, such as education and healthcare, must benefit all people. Therefore, the proponents of AI, including myself, need to critically examine whether they are unknowingly advocating for the neoliberal agenda of privatizing public affairs.

The adaptation bias constrains cognitive views to minute, incremental modifications, impeding the potential for revolutionary transformation. The allure of AI's gamification might engage a subset of students, but its success could deter educators from delving into the root causes of students' disinterest. The present trajectory of AI's advancements may yield a myopic perspective, leading us to mistake a single tree for the entire forest.

The efficiency bias, the final tenet, manifests in a societal fixation on quantitative data. This inclination is prevalent in a capitalist society where numerous social practices, including educational pursuits, are commodified. Most educators recognize that education's ultimate goal pertains to holistic human development. However, they frequently feel compelled to forgo discussions on the humanistic aspects of education due to the non-quantifiable nature of these aspects. The prevailing discourse, which praises objectivity and accountability, prioritizes efficiency metrics at the expense of social concern, typically conceptualized only in abstract manners.

AI technology may become the embodiment of "digital neoliberalism." The widespread enthusiasm for AI could be inadvertently disseminating the notion that public affairs ought to be relegated to AI applications that withstand rigorous market scrutiny because they mandate measurable changes. The implications of AI extend beyond mere technological considerations. It is vital to foster political awareness concerning the utilization of AI.

[Written with ChatGPT]