The Art and Science of User Exploitation: AI in the UAE and Beyond

The application of artificial intelligenceintelligence (AI) algorithmsalgorithm is improving everyday tasks worldwide. But while the internetinternet has transformational benefits, it also has its severe drawbacks. Internet infrastructureinfrastructure is extremely expensive and requires large private investmentinvestment. To profit while giving free access has necessitated the presentation of personalized advertisements. Psychologypsychology-based strategies are employed to keep users perpetually engaged, often using emotional or aggressive stimuli that attract attention. Users’ responses and personal data are harvested from multiple sources and analysed through complex statistical algorithmsalgorithm. When hundreds of variables are collected on a person, personalitypersonality traits, expense patterns, or political beliefs become fairly predictable. This happens because human cognition and emotions evolved for survival in Palaeolithic environments, and certain features are universal. Technologytechnology companies sell behaviourbehaviour prediction models to anyone willing to pay. According to client purposes, users can be prodded to spend money or adopt politically motivated beliefs. Furthermore, smartphonesmartphone beacons and face recognition technology make it possible to track political activists as well as criminals. Through the use of AI, therefore, tech corporations “design minds” to act as directed and socially engineer societies. Large ethical issues arise, that include privacyprivacy concerns, prediction errors, and the empowermentempowerment of transnational corporations to profit from directed human activities. As AI becomes part of everyday lives, the internetinternet that intended to bring universal knowledge to the world is unwittingly throwing us back into the Palaeolithic era. Now more than ever, humans ought to become more peaceful and content rather than be driven by ever-increasing emotion-driven contests. This chapter discusses these important issues with the direct or indirect actions that need to be taken to maintain sustainable consumption, world peace, and democratic regimes.