Young people are likelier to trust AI over humans: WEF report

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On Thursday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) came out with a report titled Davos Lab: Youth Recovery Plan. In the report, it was found out that youngsters today are more likely to trust an artificial intelligence (AI)-run system than one run by human beings, as issues like corruption, austerity, and stale political leadership have become top priorities for them.

In the report, it was noted that “Concerns such as corruption, austerity and stale political leadership have become priorities for young people if they are to keep faith in the political system, as more young people hold faith in governance by a system of artificial intelligence than by a fellow human being”.

It also added that young people are calling on philanthropic donors to direct greater investments to programmes that help young progressive voices join the government and become policymakers.

The report also said that measures to minimize the spread of misinformation through both online and traditional media are presented as effective remedies against stale political leadership. In essence, social media should be regulated to combat fake news and extremist views.

Further, the effects of misinformation this past year were particularly evident, indicating greater distrust in institutions. “To be better prepared against future shocks, young people are embracing the power of community-driven health solutions to rebuild trust in health systems, and are calling on G7 nations and international organizations to safeguard vaccine equity at the onset of future health crises”, said the report.

Support for open internet

It also said that young people are championing an open internet, particularly for close to half of the global population who lack access to the web and for those contending with internet blackouts.

For this, a $2 trillion digital access plan is recommended to service this gap, as is a plan to decrease data costs and to sanction states that resort to internet shutdowns. Moreover, the surge in exponential technologies in the Global North also presents concerns related to misuse, such as a state deploying surveillance technology to curtail youth activism, said the report.

Among those surveyed, it was found out that physical safety was ranked as the greatest safety concern among younger people, which indicated a potential function of the increased use of surveillance technology and militarized policing against activists and people of colour.