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Threat Index: Media

"AI"

"AI" is the term misleadingly applied to generative software like LLMs (Large Language Models) and any similarly complex automated program. Before LLMs, when people used the term 'AI', they generally were referring to a much more advanced theoretical technology that mimics human intelligence and doesn't actually exist. Since LLMs have become widely available, people have begun referring to them as "AI" largely due to marketing, often applying their ideas of that advanced fictional technology to these much more limited programs. Both the existence of this technology and the general ignorance of how it actually works are causing lots of problems. It is best to avoid generative "AI" like LLMs and image generators, and be very selective about the technology you do use.

Data Centers

Censorship

Manipulation

Dark Patterns

The idea of a dark pattern was called out in 2010 by Harry Brignull, a user experience (UX) designer, who has since written a book 'Deceptive Patterns' on the subject. Brignull defines 'dark' or 'deceptive' patterns as "tricks used in websites and apps that make you do things that you didn't mean to, like buying or signing up for something..." There are 16 kinds of dark patterns, many of which were, or are still, being practiced, allegedly, by some of the world's biggest companies, such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google.