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| Prompt Engineering Series |
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere - from your phone’s autocorrect to self-driving cars - but despite its growing presence, there's a subtle unease creeping into public conversation. It’s not just a question of ethics or jobs anymore; something deeper is brewing. Could AI become a taboo subject?
A taboo isn’t simply a controversial topic. It’s one that people avoid, fear, or even refuse to speak about - often because it touches a nerve, threatens identity, or breaches societal norms. AI is on that trajectory. And here’s why.
Fear of Replacement and Irrelevance
For many, AI embodies the fear of becoming obsolete. Artists feel threatened by generative models. Programmers worry about being replaced by smart automation. Even doctors and lawyers face competition from algorithms trained on vast databases. When technology begins to overshadow human skill, it stirs existential dread - and people naturally recoil.
These fears aren't always rational, but they’re emotionally potent. And when people can’t process those emotions publicly, the topic risks becoming a quiet discomfort - a future taboo.
Ethical Grey Zones
Facial recognition, deepfakes, AI surveillance - all raise serious moral concerns. Yet ethical debate is often outpaced by rapid development. As these tools become woven into daily life, asking questions like 'Should we be doing this?' feels dangerous or naïve, especially if the answer could implicate major corporations or governments.
This silence is how taboos grow: when asking the hard questions is met with ridicule or dismissal.
Social Division
AI touches politics, race, economics, privacy, and power - topics already fraught with division. Bring AI into the mix, and the debate becomes supercharged. Some see it as a liberator; others, a destroyer. The tension escalates when people are accused of being 'too technophobic' or 'too gullible'.
To sidestep conflict, people may simply stop talking about it. AI becomes the elephant in the room - acknowledged but left untouched.
Identity and Authenticity
AI-generated art, text, and even personas raise the question: What does it mean to be human? If machines can mimic creativity, emotion, and communication - what sets us apart?
These questions threaten core beliefs. Religion, philosophy, and personal identity all get tangled in the implications. Many find it easier to avoid the topic altogether than confront the discomfort. Hence: the whisper network of AI skepticism, seldom voiced aloud.
From Buzzword to Burnout
Ironically, AI may also become taboo simply due to overexposure. With every product boasting 'AI-enhanced' features, fatigue sets in. People tune out - not because they don’t care, but because they’re exhausted. The endless hype can turn curiosity into avoidance, especially when the tech doesn’t live up to expectations.
So What Happens Next?
Taboos don’t mean disappearance - they mean silence. And silence around AI could hinder healthy regulation, responsible innovation, and shared understanding.
To prevent this, we need transparent dialogue, inclusive debate, and room for discomfort. Let people express doubts, critiques, and yes - even irrational fears. Only then can AI remain a conversation, not a subject we bury.
Disclaimer: The whole text was generated by Copilot (under Windows 10) at the first attempt. This is just an experiment to evaluate feature's ability to answer standard general questions, independently on whether they are correctly or incorrectly posed. Moreover, the answers may reflect hallucinations and other types of inconsistent or incorrect reasoning.
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