THE AI HORIZON: NAVIGATING SAFETY IN AN AI-POWERED WORLD Hey everyone, welcome to Tech Frontiers. I'm Rory, and today we're talking about AI safety – what should concern us and how we can protect ourselves in this rapidly evolving tech landscape. ## Deepfakes and Generated Content Let's start with something you've probably seen online – those eerily realistic but totally fake images and videos created by AI. Deepfakes aren't just amusing memes anymore; they're getting scarily convincing. Last week, my friend nearly sent money to what she thought was her brother on a video call – turned out to be a deepfake scam. The tech is advancing faster than our ability to detect it, creating a world where we can't always trust what we see or hear. ## Your Devices Are Listening Now about those smart speakers and voice assistants we've welcomed into our homes. Ever talked about needing something, only to see ads for that exact product later? While these assistants are designed to activate only with wake words, they sometimes record when they shouldn't. Even when working correctly, they gather data about your questions, voice patterns, and daily routines. Companies have privacy policies, sure, but we're often trading convenience for privacy without fully understanding the bargain. ## Pattern Recognition and Prediction Behind the scenes, AI systems are constantly analyzing our behavior patterns, trying to predict what we'll do next. That's how streaming services seem to know exactly what you want to watch. But these systems don't just predict – they influence. Algorithms that decide you'll engage with outrageous content will show you more of it. This creates filter bubbles that reinforce existing beliefs and can lead vulnerable people down problematic paths. The concerning part? Most of this happens invisibly, with no notification saying, "We're building a profile to predict and influence your behavior." ## Protecting Yourself So what can we do? Here are quick tips: First, be skeptical of sensational content, especially involving public figures. Second, review your privacy settings on all devices. Most voice assistants let you delete history and adjust data settings. Third, diversify your information sources to break out of algorithm-created bubbles. Finally, support policies and companies prioritizing ethical AI development. We can harness AI's potential while protecting what makes us human – our privacy, agency, and ability to distinguish fact from fiction. I'd love to hear how you're navigating AI in your own life. Until next time, this is Rory reminding you to stay curious, skeptical, and human. Tech Frontiers is produced by Ryan, Thomas, Narciss. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.