AI Apocalypse Fears Labeled Media's Latest Scare Tactic
A commentary argues that the media's focus on AI doomsday scenarios mirrors historical patterns of fear-mongering, driven by a 'Fear Industrial Complex.'
The current media narrative surrounding an "AI apocalypse" is the latest in a long line of apocalyptic warnings amplified by a "Fear Industrial Complex," according to a recent commentary. This complex, described as a combination of governments, NGOs, politicians, activists, journalists, and business interests, allegedly benefits from public fear by directing attention and resources toward perceived crises.
The commentary points to recurring sensationalized threats that have captured media attention over the decades, including killer bees, murder hornets, supervolcanoes, and pandemics. It suggests that the current AI doomsday discourse, fueled by some AI industry experts, conspiracy theorists, and social media, follows a similar pattern. Headlines from various outlets are cited, featuring phrases like "AI apocalypse" and "AI doomsday," with some quoting experts who predict existential risks from advanced artificial intelligence.
This approach is compared to past media cycles, such as the focus on global cooling in the 1970s, followed by global warming and "climate change." The author notes that prior to these, the press warned of global cooling in the late 1800s and again in the 1930s. Other past concerns like pollution, DDT, and the hole in the ozone layer are also mentioned as issues that have faded from prominent news coverage.
The commentary draws a parallel between the current AI concerns and the tactics of activists like Greta Thunberg, who, it suggests, shifts focus to various causes to maintain media presence. It criticizes the tendency within some journalistic circles to dismiss dissenting views, citing a former CBS News anchor's comparison of climate change skeptics to Holocaust deniers. The commentary also references a New York Times report that indicated dire climate change scenarios used for over a decade were found to be overblown.
Referencing Michael Crichton's novel "State of Fear," the author highlights a fictional point about modern society living in "abject fear" despite unprecedented safety, health, and comfort, a fear directed at everything from strangers to the environment and technology. The piece concludes that relying on science fiction tropes for journalism, particularly concerning complex scientific topics like AI, is misplaced and that the job of journalism is not to thrill or scare, but to inform factually.