Adeline Fraser
4 min readFeb 21, 2024

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Why AI Scares: Unraveling the Fear of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the precipice of our collective imagination—a creation both awe-inspiring and bone-chilling. As we peer into the digital abyss, let us delve deeper into the labyrinth of our fears, where the flickering glow of neural networks casts eerie shadows.

1. The Enigma of Black Boxes
Imagine a room with no windows, no doors—a black box pulsating with unseen energy. AI algorithms inhabit these cryptic chambers. We feed them data, and they respond with predictions, decisions, and recommendations. But what transpires within those neural networks? The answer eludes us. The opacity of AI systems is our modern-day Pandora’s box. What if an AI-driven car swerves unexpectedly? Can we trust a recommendation without understanding the underlying logic? The fear of the unknown gnaws at our curiosity, leaving us haunted by digital phantoms.

Photo by Obi - @pixel8propix on Unsplash

2. Job Displacement and Economic Anxiety
The relentless march of automation, fueled by AI, echoes through factories, call centers, and boardrooms. The assembly lines hum with mechanical precision, while human workers glance nervously at their robotic counterparts. The fear of job displacement gnaws at our economic security. Yes, AI creates new roles—data scientists, AI ethicists, and algorithm whisperers—but it also renders certain professions obsolete. The specter of…

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