Use of AI tools risks escalating data privacy issues worldwide

By Emirhan Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – The development and the rapidly increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools risk escalating data privacy issues, as concerns arising from AI-induced risks to data are not limited to individuals, but also apply to governments around the world.

Tensions between the Western countries and China over data privacy via AI tools are on the rise, as these tools which offer seamless and innovative solutions are used in many sectors, such as health, education, and finance, while collecting data to operate.

The processing and storing of collected data bring about security concerns, as the breach of personal data can lead to fraud, and even identity theft for individuals.

Meanwhile, the risks for governments pose even a bigger threat.

Alper Ozbilen, chairman of the Turkish defense firm Pavo Group, told Anadolu that the “strategic use” of AI tools is significant to governments as their use in defense, security, and public services are of importance.

“AI is expected to bring about profound changes to social welfare and global power balance,” said Ozbilen.

Ozbilen mentioned that a decade or so ago the aid of computers in many tasks which are now conducted by AI used to be referred to as “computer-assisted,” a term long fallen into disuse.

He noted that the success of AI tools is not fully attributed to the technical capabilities of the companies developing them, but also to the amount of data they have access to, as data plays the most critical role.

Ozbilen highlighted that AI tools have an “appetite” for accessing data to an extent not seen in other technologies.

“The basic conditions for AI tools to operate require the collection, storage, sharing, and the analysis of data, posing privacy risks to users, especially via practices, such as user profiling for advertisement,” he said.

Ozbilen underlined that companies and governments with access to such tools have achieved a “technological supremacy,” as they hold monopolies over the areas where their tools are used.

“The technological know-how and the priorities of governments holding AI monopolies will determine how data risks will affect companies and individuals,” said Ozbilen.

He added that the biggest risk that AI poses is the potential “enslavement of humans,” due to “algorithmic prejudices.”

- US-China AI feud

Ozbilen stated that the US continues to lead in research and development efforts of AI via its tech giants Google, Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Meta, though the world leader is not “unrivaled” in AI.

He mentioned that Chinese tech firms such as Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, and Huawei have largely invested in AI.

The AI advancements in China prompt the US to try and limit the country’s developments in AI, as well as in 5G, said Ozbilen.

“Although the rhetoric was harsher under the Trump administration, restriction policies to suppress China-based technologies still continue under the Biden administration,” he added.

Ozbilen highlighted that the US continues making great investments to increase its semiconductor production capacity all the while trying to suppress China’s chip development.

“The leaders of AI today will be shapers of tomorrow,” said Ozbilen.

He argued that the actions of world leaders in AI will determine the future of other countries and people at large.

“Failing to understand this technology at hand properly and investing without objectives undoubtedly pose national risks,” he added.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim