Is AI-Powered Surveillance Contributing to the Rise of Totalitarianism?

Surveillance systems are being dramatically repositioned by the rapid embrace of AI technologies at societal levels. Governments, as well as tech giants, are further developing their AI-related tools with promises of stronger security, diminished crime rates, and combating misinformation. At the same time, these technologies are advancing in ways never seen before; and we are left with a very important question: Are we really prepared to sacrifice our personal freedoms in exchange for security that may never come to pass?Indeed, with AI’s capability to monitor, predict, and influence human behavior, questions go far beyond that of enhanced efficiency. While the touted benefits run from increased public safety and streamlined services, I believe that eroding personal liberties, loss of autonomy, and democratic values is a profound issue. We should consider whether the wide use of AI signals a new, subtle form of totalitarianism.While AI is changing the face of industries like retail, healthcare, and security, with insights that hitherto were deemed unimaginable, it affects more sensitive domains to do with predictive policing, facial recognition, and social credit systems. While these systems promise increased safety, it quietly forms a surveillance state, which is invisible to most citizens until it is too late....