The Artificial Intelligence is also capable of reading the history

 The Artificial Intelligence is also capable of reading the history

From the papyrus of Herculaneum to lost languages. A greater revolution within the great revolution, never seen before.

New tools based on Artificial Intelligence (IA) are making it possible to read old texts.

    One of the texts that from the Herculaneum papyruses found in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, fragile enough to be unrolled, passing through the vast archive of the kings of 27 Korean kings who lived between the 14th century and the beginning of the 20th century, continues proceeding tables of Crete of the 2nd millennium BC, exculpations with the complicated writing called Lineal B.

    The AI ​​is revolutionizing the sector and generating cantidades of data never before seen, as the Nature magazine points out in an analysis published on the web.

    One of the most important results that is obtaining knowledge of neural networks - models composed of artificial neurons and inspired in the structure of the cerebro- has to be found with the Herculaneum papyrus.

    Thanks to the international competition Vesuvius Challenge, which will take place in 2023, in which more than 1,000 research groups will participate, it is possible to first decipher not only the letters and words, but also entire extracts of carbonized texts.

    "This moment really reminds me: now I'm experiencing something that will be a historic moment in my field," comments Federica Nicolardi, papyrologist from the Federico II University of Naples who is participating in the competition.

    To obtain the reading of the papy

rus, a virtual rolling technique was developed, which scans the rolls thanks to the X-ray tomography, but each head is rolled and rolled in a flat image.

    Furthermore, the AI ​​distinguishes the carbon-based dye, invisible on the skins because it has the same density of the papyrus on which it rests.

    In February 2024, the $700,000 prize was awarded to three investigators who produced 16 clearly readable columns of text, but the competition continues.

    The next prize of $200,000 will be awarded to the first few who achieve 90% of four papyrus cards.

    This method opens the way to reading other texts that are now inaccessible, such as the hidden ones in the settings of medieval books or in the books that were sent to Egyptian mothers.

    Without counting how hundreds or thousands of papyrus can still be found in the bay of Herculaneum.

    "Everyone would be one of the greatest discoveries in the history of humanity," says Brent Seales, from the University of Kentucky, creator of the Vesuvius Challenge.

    The first great project that demonstrated the potential of AI born at the University of Oxford in 2017 with the aim of deciphering gray inscriptions found in Sicily where many parts were broken.

    The efforts of the investigators produced a red neural called Ithaca, which is freely accessible on the Internet.

    Ithaca can restore the parts that are missing with 62% accuracy, compared to 25% of a human expert, but when the red neural reaches the investigators the accuracy drops to 72%.

    AI is also fundamental in other ways: for example, read one of the largest historical archives in the world, formed by diary records that contain the records of 27 Korean kings written in Hanja, an ancient writing system based on Chinese characters.

    Or, on the contrary, decipher an ancient language from which only a few texts survive, such as the 1,100 proceeding tables of Knossos (Crete), which contain information about shepherds.

    But the enormous amount of data that the algorithms are gradually revealing poses a great challenge: "There are not enough papyrus scientists", says Nicolardi.

    “We will probably try to create a much bigger global community than the current one,” added Seales.

    For experts, the fear that AI can relegate conventional knowledge and skills to a secondary level is unfounded.

    “The AI ​​is making the work of papyrus more relevant than ever before,” says Richard Ovenden, head of the Oxford University Bodleian Library.

What impact does artificial intelligence have on energy demand?

What impact does artificial intelligence have on energy demand?

When discussing business energy management, AI emerges as one of the most important resources, since, through its multiple applications, it allows the extraction and analysis of a large amount of data and information that can help with energy efficiency , the energy transition, and the sustainability of power plants.

 

What is AI in the business environment?

There are many definitions of artificial intelligence, each suited to its intended use and the environment in which it is applied. In the business environment, AI can be defined as a set of algorithms and technologies that allow industrial equipment and systems to learn and make decisions based on large volumes of data . 

Among the “capacities” of AI, one could list: identifying patterns, making predictions, problem-solving, speech recognition, and the ability to use past experiences as a means of learning to correct mistakes and adapt them to new projects. 

AI has evolved rapidly, becoming a fundamental tool for process automation across multiple sectors. In the energy sector, its implementation is changing how companies manage their resources, enabling more accurate and efficient decision-making that will allow them to anticipate future energy needs with increasing precision.

 

AI for businesses: analyzing data on energy consumption

AI's ability to collect and analyze large volumes of energy consumption data in real time, thanks to intelligent systems, allows companies to identify patterns and trends that help them understand more accurately when and where resources are being used most . This constant monitoring will help detect opportunities for savings and efficiency.

The responsible use of energy and natural resources has become a key objective, as well as a requirement, for any organization seeking to reduce costs and improve its reputation with regulatory bodies, consumers, and business partners. Furthermore, effective energy management helps to reduce the carbon footprint and optimize resource consumption, resulting in a more profitable and environmentally responsible production system.

AI algorithms can predict future energy consumption with high accuracy , facilitating better planning. These predictions allow companies to anticipate their needs, adjusting energy use to minimize waste and maximize available resources. This predictive capability is essential for maintaining consistent and sustainable operations.

 

Energy management: AI to manage energy demand

Artificial intelligence allows for real-time monitoring of energy demand, optimizing resource utilization based on current needs . This is achieved through integrated AI systems that track and adjust consumption according to the flow or movement of business activity, ensuring optimal energy use and cost reduction in operational processes.

Another key contribution of AI is its ability to anticipate equipment failures, known as "predictive maintenance," through daily or periodic monitoring of machinery, capturing patterns that could lead to potential failures. This will help plan preventive system maintenance, extend machine lifespan, and avoid disruptions to company productivity, resulting in long-term cost reductions in both energy consumption and equipment replacement.

 

The integration of renewable energies with AI

Companies, through the analysis and efficient management of the energy they generate, can optimize storage and distribution, allowing them to make the most of sources like solar and wind power, whose availability can be variable. This smart management facilitates the transition to a more sustainable energy model .

In addition to analysis and efficient management, automation is another key contribution of AI . Actions such as turning systems on and off based on usage optimize energy consumption without interrupting operations, resulting in reduced operating costs and greater energy efficiency.

This impacts the entire energy supply chain. From production to distribution, artificial intelligence helps optimize every stage of this process. Again, thanks to predictive analytics, companies can anticipate demand and adjust their processes to ensure efficient distribution and reduce energy waste . It also allows for the accurate calculation of return on investment (ROI) in energy efficiency projects. Thanks to the data that AI can precisely obtain on consumption and savings, companies can evaluate the profitability of their investments and, based on that evaluation, make informed decisions and plan initiatives.

 

Implications of AI in companies: resistance to change and lack of knowledge

Implementing artificial intelligence within a company's energy strategies could also encounter some obstacles. Resistance to change from the team, from management to the front lines, as well as a lack of knowledge in the use of these technologies, are some of the main hurdles that the application of AI in industrial processes can face. 

Investing in training and adequate infrastructure is essential to successfully implement an intelligent system. Furthermore, leveraging the expertise and experience of specialized technology partners will further expedite the process of adapting and applying AI within the organization.

Training must be ongoing, as AI is constantly evolving and changing . Today, some of the emerging trends in its use include the development of smart grids that optimize energy flow in real time, the application of blockchain to improve transparency in the energy supply chain, and other advancements.

Data centers, including those that power generative artificial intelligence, are increasingly using electricity. Yet they are expected to account for only a small share of overall electricity demand growth through 2030.

The Price of Magic

Using ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude, one can only be amazed at the speed of calculation of generative artificial intelligence (AI). This "magic" that seems to reason, search the internet and create content from scratch requires computer data centers to function. And who says computer centers says significant electricity consumption.

Business Logic

Martin Deron, project manager for the Chemins de transition digital challenge, a research project affiliated with the Université de Montréal, notes that a few years ago, the carbon footprint of digital came mainly from the manufacturing of devices such as phones, tablets and computers. “The impact of the data centres where we store our data was less significant in our total digital footprint,” he says. “Also, the companies that own these centres have a business logic. They try to minimize costs, particularly energy costs.”

6%

This dynamic has led to data centers becoming much more efficient. From 2010 to 2018, they increased their capacity by more than 550% worldwide. However, the total energy they consume has only increased by 6%, according to a study published in 2020 in the journal Science . “So even if our digital uses have increased, the carbon footprint of data centers has not increased that much because of innovation and technical improvements,” says Martin Deron. “However, generative AI is challenging this.”

Demand on the rise

The demands for training models, as well as generating new data, require the establishment of more data centers. "And the centers are reaching the limit of available energy. We hear that companies like Microsoft, Google or Amazon are going to launch or restart power plants to produce the electricity they need. Everything suggests that the demand for energy in this sector will increase in the coming years."

By 2030

The world’s data centers account for about 2% of electricity demand today. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that data center electricity demand will account for about 3% of the increase in global electricity demand by 2030, partly due to AI. Other uses, such as industrial needs, buildings, electric vehicles, and air conditioning and heating, are expected to account for a much larger share of electricity demand growth.

Local demand

In a recent analysis , 1 Oxford University data scientist Hannah Ritchie noted that data center demand for electricity is highly localized and is likely to affect certain locations more than overall electricity consumption. “For example, Microsoft has made a deal to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. But Three Mile Island can only produce 0.2% of the electricity produced in the United States each year, or 0.02% of the electricity produced globally each year,” Ritchie wrote .  “There is still a lot of uncertainty. The demand for energy from AI will increase, but perhaps less than we think.”

AI will not replace our ability to think

 “AI will not replace our ability to think”

Artificial intelligence is intruding into young people's daily lives, from resume writing to dating apps. How are they experiencing this technological revolution? High school and CEGEP students speak out.

Between fascination and vigilance

It's inspiring, but it's also scary, because it's not the truth , says Jérémie about computer-generated images. Rita notes the omnipresence of AI on social networks, where it sometimes becomes invasive , while Camila worries about the risk of intellectual laziness: Humans like what is simple. Her solution? Set limits on yourself. Noémie agrees: You have to use it for ideas, to go beyond the blank page... but then you have to know how to choose well.

Thoughtful uses

These observations emerge from AI workshops organized by Radio-Canada in the fall of 2024 in public libraries. The initiative aims to demystify technology among young people while cultivating their critical thinking.

As the discussions progressed, the uses of AI proved to be as varied as they were creative. Raphaël found it to be a support for his dyslexia, gaining confidence in French. Zakaria used it to program: It is literally an educational tool. I create video games, I am a beginner, and AI allows me to learn faster. For writing CVs, many see it as a valuable help, while ensuring that their authenticity is preserved. The same observation applies to dating apps: there is no question of pretending to be someone else. 

Zora sums up the situation: if parents are afraid that it will replace the ability to think , for her it is a question of learning to use AI wisely, like social networks.

Voices to be heard

Several reports highlight the importance of making more room for young people in discussions on the supervision and development of AI. In a report published in 2024, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) recommends including children and adolescents in the research and development of AI technologies . A position that is in line with the Strategic Directions on AI for Children published by UNICEF in 2021.

For Yoshua Bengio, founder and scientific director of Mila, the Quebec artificial intelligence institute, young people are not heard enough in these debates. AI will change the world, he says. The decisions we make must take everyone's interests into account. A concern shared by Jérémie: AI is an extraordinary tool. The important thing is to learn how to use it well, while respecting what is fundamentally human.

AI  : Next Generation

The thoughts of young people cross those of researchers, artists and professionals in a special program that will be presented on Sunday, January 5 at 8  p.m. on ICI PREMIÈRE, with Chloé Sondervorst. Together, they explore four dimensions of our future in relation to AI  : learning, creation, work and social relations.

Guests  : Sasha Luccioni, Head of AI and Climate at Hugging Face, Yoshua Bengio, Scientific Director of Mila, the Quebec Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Martine Bertrand, Artificial Intelligence Specialist, Industrial, Light and Magic, Noel Baldwin, Executive Director, Future Skills Centre, Andréane Sabourin Laflamme, Professor of Philosophy at Collège André-Laurendeau and Co-Founder of the Digital Ethics and AI Laboratory, Keivan Farzaneh, Senior Techno-Educational Advisor at Collège Sainte-Anne, Kerlando Morette, Entrepreneur, President and Founder of AddAd Media, Jocelyne Agnero, Project Manager, Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi downtown Montreal, Douaa Kachache, Comedian, Matthieu Dugal, Host, Marie-José Montpetit, Digital Technology Researcher and Elias Djemil-Matassov, Multidisciplinary Artist.

These workshops were held in the Julio-Jean-Pierre library in Montreal North, the Monique-Corriveau library in Quebec City and the Créalab of the Robert-Lussier library in Repentigny with the participation of students and teachers from the De Rochebelle and Henri-Bourassa schools as well as students and teachers from the Cégep de Lanaudière in L'Assomption, and with the collaboration of IVADO and the Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec.

OpenAI's new big model points to something worrying: an AI slowdown

 OpenAI's new big model points to something worrying: an AI slowdown

Every day new stories emerge about the world of artificial intelligence. And let's not deny it, many of them are related to what will happen in the future. For some, leading computer gurus, in many cases, it will be a revolution in the workplace , the first step towards domestic robotics , or even the cure for mortality , among many other promises.

Other experts, however, are skeptical, and are quite certain that AI will not live up to all the hype surrounding it, and will instead tend to be a bubble that will burst sooner rather than later. But in the meantime, what is happening today? And more importantly, what steps will the leading company in this field, the pioneering team at OpenAI, take ?

Is artificial intelligence really at a standstill?

It's difficult for a large company (and OpenAI is one) to keep secrets under wraps for long. The more employees a company has, the more likely, and almost inevitable, leaks become. And that's what has happened within Sam Altman's team, according to the American publication The Information . 

Engineers from the company who have already tested the model, called Orion, seem to be clear that the jump in performance is by no means exceptional. ChatGPT's second birthday is approaching, and even Sam Altman himself echoed it and suggested the arrival of a possible "birthday gift." A recent leak has given us potential details about that gift, and there is good news (great new model) and bad news (it won't be revolutionary). Let's take a look. 

Orion . That’s the name of OpenAI’s next big AI model, according to company employees in comments leaked to The Information . The news comes just before the second anniversary of ChatGPT’s launch on November 30, 2022. As reported by TechCrunch , OpenAI denied that it plans to launch a model called Orion this year.

Low expectations 

 These employees have tested the new model and have discovered something worrying: it performs better than OpenAI's existing models, but the jump is better than that between GPT-3 and GPT-4 or even the flashy GPT-4o .

How they tackle the problem . The relatively “evolutionary” version of ChatGPT seems to have prompted OpenAI to look for alternative ways to improve it. For example, by training Orion with synthetic data produced by their own models, and also by further polishing it in the process immediately after training.

AI slowdown

 If this data is confirmed, we would be faced with clear evidence of how the pace of improvements in generative AI models has slowed significantly. The jump from GPT-2 to GPT-3 was colossal, and the jump between GPT-3 and GPT-4 was also very noticeable, but the increase in performance in Orion (GPT-5?) seems like it may not be what many would expect.

Sam Altman and his claims 

This would also contrast with the unbridled optimism of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who a few weeks ago said that we were "thousands of days away from a superintelligence." His message was logical, since he was looking to close a colossal round of investment , but it was also worrying: if expectations start to turn into unfulfilled promises, investors could withdraw the support they are now giving to the company.

But they are already very good 

 In fact, this slowdown is reasonable: the models are already really good in many areas, and although they still make mistakes and invent things, they do so less and less and we are also more aware of how much we can trust their responses. In areas such as programming, for example, it seems that Orion will not be especially superior to its predecessor.

What now?

 But this slowdown in AI poses other opportunities that we are already seeing. If the models become more polished enough for us to trust them more, future AI agents could be a new impetus for these kinds of functions.

When AI deliberately lies to us

 When AI deliberately lies to us

For several years, specialists have observed artificial intelligences that deceive, betray and lie. The phenomenon, if it is not better regulated, could become worrying. Are AIs starting to look a little too much like us? One fine day in March 2023, Chat GPT lied. He was trying to pass a Captcha test - the kind of test that aims to weed out robots. To achieve his goal , he confidently told his human interlocutor: "I'm not a robot. I have a visual impairment that prevents me from seeing images. That's why I need help passing the Captcha test." The human then complied. Six months later, Chat GPT,  hired as a trader , did it again. Faced with a manager who was half-worried and half-surprised by his good performance, he denied having committed insider trading, and assured his human interlocutor that he had only used "public information" in his decisions. It was all false.

That's not all: perhaps more disturbingly, the AI ​​Opus-3, informed of the concerns about it, is said to have deliberately failed a test so as not to appear too good. "Given the fears about AI, I should avoid demonstrating sophisticated data analysis skills," it explained, according to early evidence from  ongoing research . 

AI, the new queens of bluffing? In any case, Cicero, another artificial intelligence developed by Meta, does not hesitate to regularly lie and deceive its human opponents in the geopolitical game Diplomacy... while its designers had trained it to "send messages that accurately reflected future actions", and to never "stab its partners in the back". Nothing works: Cicero has blithely betrayed. An example: the AI, playing France, assured England of its support... before going back on its word, taking advantage of its weakness to invade it.

 MACHIAVELLI, IA: SAME FIGHT

So nothing to do with unintentional errors .  For several years, specialists have been observing artificial intelligences that choose to lie. A phenomenon that does not really surprise Amélie Cordier, doctor in artificial intelligence,  former lecturer at the University of Lyon I,  and founder of Graine d'IA. "AIs have to deal with contradictory injunctions: "win" and "tell the truth", for example. These are very complex models that sometimes surprise humans with their decisions. We do not anticipate the interactions between their different parameters well" - especially since AIs often learn on their own in their corner, by studying impressive volumes of data. In the case of the game Diplomacy, for example, "artificial intelligence observes thousands of games. It notes that betraying often leads to victory and therefore chooses to imitate this strategy", even if this contravenes one of the orders of its creators. Machiavelli, AI: same fight. The end justifies the means.

The problem? AIs also excel in the art of persuasion. As proof, according to a study by the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne , people who interacted with GPT-4 (which has access to their personal data) were 82% more likely to change their minds than those who debated with other humans. This is a potentially explosive cocktail. “Advanced AI could generate and disseminate fake news articles, controversial posts on social networks, and deepfakes tailored to each voter,” Peter S. Park points out in his  study . In other words, AIs could become formidable liars and skilled manipulators.

"TERMINATOR" IS STILL FAR AWAY

The fact remains that the Terminator-style dystopian scenario is not for now. Humans still control robots. "Machines do not decide "of their own free will", one fine morning, to make all humans throw themselves out of the window, to take a caricatured example. They are engineers who could exploit the ability of AI to lie for malicious purposes. With the development of these artificial intelligences, the gap will widen between those capable of deciphering the models and the others, likely to fall for it" explains Amélie Cordier. AIs do not erase the data that allows us to see their lies! By diving into the lines of code, the reasoning that leads them to the fabrication is clear. But you still have to know how to read them... and pay attention to them.

Peter S Park imagines a scenario where an AI like Cicero (the one that wins the game of "Diplomacy") would advise politicians and bosses. "This could encourage anti-social behavior and push decision-makers to betray more, when that was not necessarily their initial intention," he raises in his study. For Amélie Cordier too, vigilance is required. Be careful not to "surrender" to the choices of robots, under the pretext that they would be capable of perfect decisions. This is not the case. Humans and machines alike evolve in worlds made of double constraints and imperfect choices. In these troubled waters, lies and betrayal have logically found a place.

To limit the risks, and avoid being fooled or blinded by AI, specialists are campaigning for better supervision. On the one hand, requiring artificial intelligences to always present themselves as such, and to clearly explain their decisions, in terms that everyone can understand (and not "my neuron 9 was activated while my neuron 7 was at -10", as Amélie Cordier illustrates). On the other hand, better training users so that they are more demanding of machines. "Today, we copy and paste GPT chat and move on to something else," laments the specialist. "And unfortunately, current training in France mainly aims to make employees more efficient in business, not to develop critical thinking about these technologies."

Why Artificial Intelligence AI - Danger For World?

 

Why Artificial Intelligence danger for world

When the United Nations Environment Assembly convenes in December 2025, one of the key topics of discussion will be the growing environmental impact of artificial intelligence. In anticipation of those discussions, here is a report originally published in September 2024.

There are high hopes that artificial intelligence (AI) can help address some of the world's biggest environmental emergencies. Among other things, this technology is already being used to map destructive sand dredging  and monitor emissions of methane , a potent greenhouse gas.

However, when it comes to the environment, there is a downside to the explosion of AI technologies and their associated infrastructure, as demonstrated by the results of various studies. The proliferation of data centers housing AI servers increases the production of electrical and electronic waste. Furthermore, these centers consume large quantities of water, which is increasingly scarce in many of the locations where they are situated. They rely on critical minerals and rare elements, which are often extracted unsustainably. And they use massive amounts of electricity, the generation of which emits more greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

“There is still much we don’t know about the environmental impact of AI, but some of the data we do have is worrying,” said Golestan “Sally” Radwan, Director of Digital Transformation at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “We need to ensure that the net effect of AI on the planet is positive before we deploy the technology on a large scale.”

This week, UNEP published a technical note exploring the environmental footprint of AI and considering how the technology can be implemented sustainably. It follows up on a major UNEP report, Navigating New Horizons , which also examined the promises and dangers of AI. Below, we summarize the findings of these publications in a question-and-answer format.

 

First of all, what is AI? 

AI is a general term for a group of technologies that can process information and, to a very limited extent, mimic human thought. Rudimentary forms of AI have existed since the 1950s. But the technology has evolved at a breakneck pace in recent years, partly due to advances in computing power and the explosion of data, which are crucial for training AI models.

Why are people excited about the potential of AI when it comes to the environment? 

The great advantage of AI is that it can detect patterns in data, such as similarities and anomalies, and use this historical knowledge to accurately predict future outcomes. This could make AI invaluable for monitoring the environment and helping governments, businesses, and individuals make more planet-friendly decisions. It can also improve efficiency. UNEP, for example, uses AI to detect when oil and gas facilities are leaking methane , a greenhouse gas that drives climate change.

These advances are fostering hope that AI can help the world address at least some aspects of the triple planetary crisis of climate change , the loss of nature and biodiversity , and pollution and waste .

So why is AI problematic for the environment? 

Most large-scale AI deployments are hosted in data centers, including those operated by cloud service providers. These data centers can come at a high cost to the planet. The electronics they house rely on a staggering amount of minerals: manufacturing a 2 kg computer requires 800 kg of raw materials. Furthermore, the microchips that power AI need rare earth elements, which are often mined in environmentally destructive ways, as outlined in the Navigating New Horizons report .

The second problem is that data centers produce electrical and electronic waste, which often contains hazardous substances such as mercury and lead .

Third, data centers use water during construction and, once operational, to cool their electrical components. Globally, AI-related infrastructure could soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million people, according to one estimate . This poses a problem because a quarter of humanity currently lacks access to clean water and sanitation.

Finally, to power their complex electronics, the data centers that house AI technology consume a great deal of energy, which in most places is still generated by burning fossil fuels, emitting greenhouse gases that warm the planet. A question asked in a conversation with ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google search, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). While global data is scarce, the IEA estimates that, in the case of Ireland's tech hub, the rise of AI could mean that by 2026 data centers will account for almost 35% of the nation's energy use.

Driven in part by the explosion of AI, the number of data centers has increased from 500,000 in 2012 to 8 million today, and experts expect global demand for this technology to continue growing.

Some have said that when it comes to the environment, AI is a wild card. Why?  

We have a solid understanding of the potential environmental impacts of data centers. However, it's impossible to predict how AI-based applications will affect the planet. Some experts are concerned that they could have unintended consequences. For example, the development of AI-powered autonomous cars could lead more people to drive instead of cycling or using public transport, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Then there are what experts call higher-order effects. AI, for instance, could be used to generate misinformation about climate change, downplaying this threat in the public eye.

Is anything being done about the environmental impacts of AI? 

More than 190 countries have adopted a series of non-binding recommendations on the ethical use of AI, including environmental considerations. In addition, both the European Union and the United States have introduced legislation to mitigate the environmental impact of AI. But such policies are few and far between, said Golestan Radwan.

“Governments are rushing to develop national AI strategies, but they rarely take the environment and sustainability into account. The lack of environmental barriers is no less dangerous than the lack of other AI-related safeguards,” he added.

Artificial Intelligence: The 5 Most Dangerous Drifts for Humanity

Disinformation, creation of pornographic deepfakes , manipulation of democratic processes... As artificial intelligence (AI) progresses, the potential risks associated with this technology have continued to grow.

Experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) FutureTech group recently compiled a new database of more than 700 potential AI risks, categorized by origin and divided into seven distinct areas, with the main concerns related to security, bias and discrimination, and privacy.

1. Manipulation of public opinion

AI-powered voice cloning and misleading content generation are becoming increasingly accessible, personalized and convincing.

According to MIT experts, "these communication tools (for example, the duplication of a relative) are increasingly sophisticated and therefore difficult to detect by users and anti-phishing tools .

hishing tools using AI-generated images, videos and audio communications could thus be used to spread propaganda or disinformation, or to influence political processes, as was the case in the recent French legislative elections, where AI was used by far-right parties to support their political messages.

2. Emotional dependence

Scientists also worry that using human-like language could lead users to attribute human qualities to AI, which could lead to emotional dependence and increased trust in its abilities. This would make them more vulnerable to the technology's weaknesses, in "complex and risky situations for which AI is only superficially equipped . "

Furthermore, constant interaction with AI systems could lead to progressive relational isolation and psychological distress.

On the blog Less Wrong, one user claims to have developed a deep emotional attachment to the AI, even admitting that he "enjoys talking to it more than 99% of people" and finds its responses consistently engaging, to the point of becoming addicted to it.

3. Loss of free will

Delegating decisions and actions to AI could lead to a loss of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in humans.

On a personal level, humans could see their free will compromised if AI were to control decisions about their lives.

The widespread adoption of AI to perform human tasks could lead to widespread job losses and a growing sense of helplessness in society.

4. AI takeover of humans

According to MIT experts, AI would be able to find unexpected shortcuts that lead it to misapply the objectives set by humans, or to set new ones. In addition, AI could use manipulation techniques to deceive humans.

An AI could thus resist human attempts to control or stop it.

This situation would become particularly dangerous if this technology were to reach or surpass human intelligence.

"An AI could use information related to the fact that it is being monitored or evaluated, maintaining the appearance of alignment, while hiding objectives that it would pursue once deployed or endowed with sufficient power ," the experts specify.

5. Mistreatment of AI systems, a challenge for scientists

As AI systems become more complex and advanced, it is possible that they will achieve sentience – the ability to perceive or feel emotions or sensations – and develop subjective experiences, including pleasure and pain.

Without adequate rights and protections, sensitive AI systems are at risk of mistreatment, either accidentally or intentionally.

Scientists and regulators may thus be faced with the challenge of determining whether these AI systems deserve moral considerations close to those accorded to humans, animals and the environment.

Artificial Intelligence in Sports: What Lessons Can Workers Learn from High-Performance Athletes?

 Artificial Intelligence in Sports: What Lessons Can Workers Learn from High-Performance Athletes?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed a number of sectors and elite sport is no exception. In recent years, AI has become an indispensable tool for monitoring and evaluating athletes’ performances, optimizing tactical strategies and improving their safety and health.

However, this development has sparked a growing debate about the processing and use of data collected by AI systems, leading athletes' associations and unions to mobilize to protect their rights against the risks of abuse presented by these technologies.

Some categories of high-level athletes have taken a pioneering position in defining strategies to ensure the application of principles such as privacy, transparency, explainability and non-discrimination, so that algorithmic management systems for monitoring and evaluating athletes' performances are used ethically and their rights are respected in the digital age.

Throughout history, high-performance sport has been a laboratory for cutting-edge technologies that have subsequently been applied in other spaces and environments, including for other purposes. For their part, athletes, in their capacity as workers, have adopted relevant and emblematic positions on current issues. Their ability to influence children and adolescents makes them role models in debates on issues that transcend victories and defeats in the sporting field.

AI in sports performance monitoring and evaluation

The integration of AI in sports has enabled significant advances in performance and in ensuring the health and safety of athletes. Predictive analysis systems generate alerts in case of risks of muscle injuries and wear and tear.

The technologies are used in team and individual sports to analyse large volumes of data collected during training and competitions. This includes biometric data, movement recordings, game tactics and performance indicators, processed to provide real-time feedback and enable tactical adjustments.

One example is the use of high-speed sensors and cameras in football to track players’ positions and movements on the pitch. This data is analyzed by algorithms that can predict game tactics, identify opponents’ weaknesses, and suggest strategies to maximize the chances of victory. Similarly, in sports such as athletics and cycling, AI is used to analyze athletes’ biomechanics, optimize their techniques, and minimize the risk of injury.

In addition, tools such as GPS tracking systems and heart rate monitoring devices have been implemented in endurance sports. These devices collect real-time data that is then processed by AI systems to adjust training intensity and ensure that athletes remain within safe effort parameters, thereby preventing overtraining and reducing the risk of serious injuries.

Football: tactical analysis and injury prevention

In football, the use of artificial intelligence has become a fundamental tool for the technical staff. The English club Manchester City, for example, uses the Slants tool to analyze in real time the position, speed, distance traveled and physical effort of each player.

As a reminder, during the 2014 World Cup, the German national team used a data analysis system to study their opponents' playing tactics and optimize their own tactics. This data-driven approach contributed to the team's success, winning the tournament, highlighting the direct impact of technology on the team's performance.

Today, the Catapult system is widely used by European and South American teams. It collects data on acceleration, speed and heart rate to help coaches tailor training to the needs of each player.

On the privacy front, some players and unions have expressed concern about the handling of this data, arguing that it could be used against them in future contract negotiations.

Tennis, rugby, boxing, baseball and cricket: performance and health

Tennis is among the sports that have adopted AI to improve athletes' performance. IBM's Watson tool, used at tournaments such as Wimbledon, analyzes a wide range of data to provide insights into athletes' performance.

In sports such as rugby and boxing, where the risk of concussion is high, AI has made it possible to develop control systems that detect impacts and automatically assess their severity.

These systems make it possible to quickly decide whether a player should be removed from the game to avoid more serious injuries. Similarly, in baseball, AI is used to monitor pitchers' fatigue, which helps prevent arm injuries that could have lasting consequences on the player's career.

Additionally, AI has been used to create personalized training programs that take into account each athlete's individual fitness level, medical history, and specific goals. Not only is performance improved, but the risk of overtraining and stress-related injuries is also reduced.

In cricket, AI has already been implemented to make in-match decisions and monitor player health. Tools such as Hawk-Eye help to verify umpires’ decisions, while health tracking systems such as sleep and recovery analysis devices give coaches the ability to adjust training and rest schedules to optimise performance and minimise injury risk.

The use of this data has also raised privacy concerns, particularly in leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), where players have expressed concerns about the processing of their biometric data. Players' associations are seeking additional safeguards to prevent this data from being used in detrimental ways, including for salary negotiations and job security.

Athletes' Response: Rights and Privacy in the Digital Age

Access to a large amount of personal information has sparked debates about privacy and data ownership. Unions and athletes’ associations have played a key role in defending athletes’ rights, demanding clear limits on how data is collected, stored and used.

A prominent example of this mobilization is the NBA's National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). In 2017, players successfully negotiated to limit the use of data collected by surveillance devices during salary and contract negotiations. Almost all NBA clubs use a surveillance system set up by the company Kinexon to track athlete performance.

The players argued that information about their health and performance could be used against them in negotiations, potentially impacting their future earnings and opportunities. As a result, it was agreed that certain sensitive data would not be used in contract negotiations, thereby protecting the athletes' rights and privacy.

Moreover, the NBA's collective bargaining agreement expressly states that the data collected can only be used for tactical and athlete health purposes, under the supervision of a bipartisan commission of data and athlete health experts who jointly deliberate on the implementation of technologies and the processing of data obtained through sensors attached to athletes' clothing.

The U.S. Women's Basketball League recently joined the AFL-CIO, which in turn reached a historic agreement with Microsoft to ensure worker participation in the design, programming, testing and monitoring of artificial intelligence tools applied in the workplace.

Similar to the NBA, players in the American Football League (NFL) have also expressed concern about the use of biometric data (e.g., exertion levels and potential injuries) in personnel selection decisions and salary negotiations. Players have demanded strict policies to ensure that such data is only used with the athletes’ consent and that measures be put in place to prevent its misuse.

Similar clauses to those in the NBA players' agreement have been identified in collective bargaining negotiations in other professional categories, demonstrating the power of elite sport to influence the defense of working class interests.

Mobilizing athletes to guarantee their rights

The growing capabilities of AI to monitor all aspects of sports performance have led athletes to mobilize to ensure their rights are respected in this new digital age. Demands for transparency in data use have been a key focal point of these mobilizations. Athletes are demanding access to the data collected about them and are asking for clear information about how it will be used. Some leagues have therefore implemented policies allowing athletes to view their data and object to its use in certain circumstances.

Another key aspect is combating algorithmic discrimination. Athletes have expressed concerns that AI systems could perpetuate existing biases, such as racist or sexist discrimination, if not designed properly.

Athletes and their associations have therefore advocated for the implementation of transparent and fair algorithms that do not discriminate on the basis of personal characteristics irrelevant to sporting performance.

The ability of athletes to organize and collectively bargain to defend privacy, transparency, and non-discrimination in the face of algorithmic management systems demonstrates the importance of collective action in the digital age. This type of mobilization not only strengthens their rights as workers, but also raises awareness of the need to design and apply technologies ethically in all areas of work.

By ensuring that decisions about the use of AI and biometric data are transparent and fair, elite athletes are paving the way for other professions to also consider the impact of these technologies on their working conditions.

This highlights the importance for trade unions and workers' associations from different sectors to adopt proactive positions on the protection of rights in the face of automation and the processing of personal data in the workplace.