AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
Vicar Sayeedi
March 12, 2021
The issue of xenophobia within society is most often discussed in a sociopolitical context, often without a holistic understanding of its real roots. The problem continues to be vexing in that people have tried to find solutions for millennia but with largely limited success. There is much that can and needs to be done to protect society from those with xenophobic tendencies as well as from those with generally dangerous personality traits or other antisocial biases. Hopefully though, once we consider xenophobia’s scientific basis – its deep roots in Evolutionary Psychology – we may find some solutions lie in the domain of technology.
Robin Dunbar, the Oxford Anthropologist and Evolutionary Psychologist, believes that homo sapiens can maintain an intimate network of just five people. This is their innermost circle. A second concentric circle can be drawn around this innermost circle where we can maintain relationships with about fifteen close friends. A third concentric circle can be drawn around this one with about fifty friends and a fourth concentric circle can be drawn around this one representing about 150 meaningful contacts. A fifth concentric circle around this one represents about 500 acquaintances and a sixth and final concentric circle around this one represents about 1500 people that we recognize but don’t really know. Obviously, these numbers amount to statistical rounding errors when we consider the population of the world. In fact, anyone beyond our circle of 150 meaningful contacts will likely fall outside our zone of personal safety and trust. This is what we might in tribal terms label as ‘our clan’.
Now let’s consider the issue of xenophobia which is so firmly rooted in human psychology. When examined from the perspective of Evolutionary Psychology, xenophobia has been an important component of mammalian survival for nearly 200 million years. For example, if there was a rustling sound in the trees in a nearby forest and our ancestors were not sufficiently alarmed to take cover or to assume a meaningfully defensive posture, they might soon find themselves face to face with a dangerous foe, perhaps a wild beast who saw them as a source of food. Or perhaps another hominin or another homo sapiens from a rival band or tribe might have liked to steal food or valuable hunting tools from one of our ancestors?
Without this trait of xenophobia embedded in our psychology, our ancient ancestors would soon have fallen victim in one of these dangerous situations and so we would not be here today. Alternatively, those that did have this trait were more likely to survive and therefore more likely to pass on this very important attribute. This process has repeated itself for tens of millions of years and so xenophobia has become deeply rooted in our psychology within our Limbic System or Mammalian brain. In fact, the phenomenon of xenophobia has long been observed in other primates, as well, including the ones genetically closest to us, the bonobo chimpanzee with whom we share about 96% of our DNA.
For most of homo sapiens existence, we have lived in hunter-gatherer communities organized in small bands. We kept to ourselves while only periodically interacting with other bands that we knew. But 13,000 years BCE and following the end of the last Ice Age, we began to find large fields of staples such as barley and wheat growing in abundance along the Nile River valley in Egypt and the Euphrates and Tigris River valleys in Mesopotamia. This gradual change in our environment by about 10,000 BCE caused us to reconsider our way of life – rather than roaming nomadically in search of flora and fauna, our primary concern now was to harvest and protect this large source of food and learn how we could repeat the process the next season and the one after that.
This behavioral change caused us to begin forming communities and villages and eventually towns and cities with steadily increasing numbers of people. For the first time, humankind was interacting with so many groups of individuals whom they didn’t know, a phenomenon that was contradictory to our nature and psychology that had been adapted and evolved over millennia. Now, xenophobia had become a serious problem and we needed to find ways to contain it. It was very challenging and this new reality gave rise to immense violence.
One important mechanism to contain xenophobia and other destructive personality traits was the development of culture, religion and tradition along with legal codes sanctioned by deities to hold those who caused problems to account. These social mechanisms enabled larger numbers of people to live and work together in communities in what could best be described as a tenuous peace. But even in modern times we continue to see xenophobia persist and the reactions are often reprehensible and extraordinarily violent.
We now know that homo sapiens, like all other species, are shaped by Evolutionary Biology and Evolutionary Psychology. But we are distinct from all other species in that our behavior can further be shaped by culture and religion. We also know that modern humans respond to arts, film, literature and reason in adapting their behavior, yet despite all of these mechanisms to help contain and eradicate xenophobia or destructive personality traits from domestic and public life, we still struggle to an unacceptable degree.
But in the very near future, we may be able to use Artificial Intelligence enabled surveillance to help. AI Agents can process millions of characteristics about humans – both genetic data such as our entire genome as well as data gathered from human behavior, facial micro-expressions and even subcutaneous or neurological monitoring – to accurately determine a person’s propensity for dangerous xenophobic behavior or other destructive personality traits. It may soon become possible to use AI to alert officials of these dangerous traits for virtually every single human in our society and also to intervene with numerous protocols that can protect the society as a whole.
Of course there is tremendous risk that these tools of surveillance may fall into the wrong hands and be misused by those with nefarious intent, but this is the reality of virtually every tool humankind has every put forth, beginning with fire and stone. The difference this time though, is that the power of AI is nothing like humankind has ever developed. It is truly an existential threat as it increases in power along with its propensity for abuse.
Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Engineer, a Lecturer and a Consultant. Vicar is also the author of several books. His most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair.
Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. This intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.
Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children [if they decide to visit during the holidays!]
You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7
The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:
Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?
Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents
Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism
Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!
Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens
Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance
Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI
Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!
Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius
Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple
Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society
Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy
Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens
Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment
Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair
Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game
Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?
Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West
Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]
Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship
Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology
Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution
Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind
Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team
Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?
Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos
Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State
Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?
Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA
Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?
Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy
Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration
Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?
Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution
Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?
Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?
Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?
Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?
Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?
Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?
Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology
Episode 44 - https://youtu.be/mWaPW_UolVo
AI & Geopolitics | Critical Strategic Planning in the Age of China
Episode 45 - https://youtu.be/qOSOc3vJRBk
AI & Humankind | What Might the Future Hold?
Episode 46 - https://youtu.be/atMSV1WAFkg
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
Vicar Sayeedi
March 12, 2021
The issue of xenophobia within society is most often discussed in a sociopolitical context, often without a holistic understanding of its real roots. The problem continues to be vexing in that people have tried to find solutions for millennia but with largely limited success. There is much that can and needs to be done to protect society from those with xenophobic tendencies as well as from those with generally dangerous personality traits or other antisocial biases. Hopefully though, once we consider xenophobia’s scientific basis – its deep roots in Evolutionary Psychology – we may find some solutions lie in the domain of technology.
Robin Dunbar, the Oxford Anthropologist and Evolutionary Psychologist, believes that homo sapiens can maintain an intimate network of just five people. This is their innermost circle. A second concentric circle can be drawn around this innermost circle where we can maintain relationships with about fifteen close friends. A third concentric circle can be drawn around this one with about fifty friends and a fourth concentric circle can be drawn around this one representing about 150 meaningful contacts. A fifth concentric circle around this one represents about 500 acquaintances and a sixth and final concentric circle around this one represents about 1500 people that we recognize but don’t really know. Obviously, these numbers amount to statistical rounding errors when we consider the population of the world. In fact, anyone beyond our circle of 150 meaningful contacts will likely fall outside our zone of personal safety and trust. This is what we might in tribal terms label as ‘our clan’.
Now let’s consider the issue of xenophobia which is so firmly rooted in human psychology. When examined from the perspective of Evolutionary Psychology, xenophobia has been an important component of mammalian survival for nearly 200 million years. For example, if there was a rustling sound in the trees in a nearby forest and our ancestors were not sufficiently alarmed to take cover or to assume a meaningfully defensive posture, they might soon find themselves face to face with a dangerous foe, perhaps a wild beast who saw them as a source of food. Or perhaps another hominin or another homo sapiens from a rival band or tribe might have liked to steal food or valuable hunting tools from one of our ancestors?
Without this trait of xenophobia embedded in our psychology, our ancient ancestors would soon have fallen victim in one of these dangerous situations and so we would not be here today. Alternatively, those that did have this trait were more likely to survive and therefore more likely to pass on this very important attribute. This process has repeated itself for tens of millions of years and so xenophobia has become deeply rooted in our psychology within our Limbic System or Mammalian brain. In fact, the phenomenon of xenophobia has long been observed in other primates, as well, including the ones genetically closest to us, the bonobo chimpanzee with whom we share about 96% of our DNA.
For most of homo sapiens existence, we have lived in hunter-gatherer communities organized in small bands. We kept to ourselves while only periodically interacting with other bands that we knew. But 13,000 years BCE and following the end of the last Ice Age, we began to find large fields of staples such as barley and wheat growing in abundance along the Nile River valley in Egypt and the Euphrates and Tigris River valleys in Mesopotamia. This gradual change in our environment by about 10,000 BCE caused us to reconsider our way of life – rather than roaming nomadically in search of flora and fauna, our primary concern now was to harvest and protect this large source of food and learn how we could repeat the process the next season and the one after that.
This behavioral change caused us to begin forming communities and villages and eventually towns and cities with steadily increasing numbers of people. For the first time, humankind was interacting with so many groups of individuals whom they didn’t know, a phenomenon that was contradictory to our nature and psychology that had been adapted and evolved over millennia. Now, xenophobia had become a serious problem and we needed to find ways to contain it. It was very challenging and this new reality gave rise to immense violence.
One important mechanism to contain xenophobia and other destructive personality traits was the development of culture, religion and tradition along with legal codes sanctioned by deities to hold those who caused problems to account. These social mechanisms enabled larger numbers of people to live and work together in communities in what could best be described as a tenuous peace. But even in modern times we continue to see xenophobia persist and the reactions are often reprehensible and extraordinarily violent.
We now know that homo sapiens, like all other species, are shaped by Evolutionary Biology and Evolutionary Psychology. But we are distinct from all other species in that our behavior can further be shaped by culture and religion. We also know that modern humans respond to arts, film, literature and reason in adapting their behavior, yet despite all of these mechanisms to help contain and eradicate xenophobia or destructive personality traits from domestic and public life, we still struggle to an unacceptable degree.
But in the very near future, we may be able to use Artificial Intelligence enabled surveillance to help. AI Agents can process millions of characteristics about humans – both genetic data such as our entire genome as well as data gathered from human behavior, facial micro-expressions and even subcutaneous or neurological monitoring – to accurately determine a person’s propensity for dangerous xenophobic behavior or other destructive personality traits. It may soon become possible to use AI to alert officials of these dangerous traits for virtually every single human in our society and also to intervene with numerous protocols that can protect the society as a whole.
Of course there is tremendous risk that these tools of surveillance may fall into the wrong hands and be misused by those with nefarious intent, but this is the reality of virtually every tool humankind has every put forth, beginning with fire and stone. The difference this time though, is that the power of AI is nothing like humankind has ever developed. It is truly an existential threat as it increases in power along with its propensity for abuse.
Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Engineer, a Lecturer and a Consultant. Vicar is also the author of several books. His most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair.
Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. This intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.
Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children [if they decide to visit during the holidays!]
You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7
The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:
Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?
Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents
Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism
Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!
Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens
Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance
Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI
Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!
Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius
Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple
Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society
Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution
Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy
Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens
Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment
Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair
Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game
Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?
Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West
Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]
Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship
Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology
Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution
Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind
Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team
Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?
Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos
Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State
Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?
Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA
Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?
Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy
Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration
Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?
Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution
Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?
Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?
Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?
Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?
Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?
Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?
Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology
Episode 44 - https://youtu.be/mWaPW_UolVo
AI & Geopolitics | Critical Strategic Planning in the Age of China
Episode 45 - https://youtu.be/qOSOc3vJRBk
AI & Humankind | What Might the Future Hold?
Episode 46 - https://youtu.be/atMSV1WAFkg
AI Enabled Surveillance | An Important Tool to Contain Dangerous Personality Traits?
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