Monday, May 05, 2025

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Tech Companies Misunderstand Public Concerns About AI Risks

Concerns about AI’s social impact and privacy risks highlighted

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

A security engineer expresses personal concerns about AI that go beyond fears of superintelligence or job loss, focusing instead on the social harms enabled by AI technologies and the lack of user consent in their deployment.

Why it matters: AI’s real risks lie in enabling antisocial behaviors like misinformation, nonconsensual content, and industry disruption without safeguards.

The stakes: AI integrated into private communications threatens user privacy and could lead to wrongful profiling and government surveillance.

Quick takeaway: The author demands AI features be opt-in by default to respect user consent and avoid forced adoption.

Commenters say: Many resonate with skepticism about AI hype, noting passionate AI advocates often seem detached from human concerns and the technology’s practical flaws.