AI’s Impact on Human Life: From Privacy and Security to the Future of the Internet and UBI

It seems that we have willingly surrendered our privacy in exchange for technological convenience. Few of us read the “privacy policy” of the apps we download, yet these platforms generate tremendous profit from the personal data we provide for free. With rising public awareness of this exploitation, a future where users are paid for their data is not unimaginable, especially as data-hungry technologies require constant streams of new information.

According to Britannica, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of a computer´-or-robot to perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence and judgment. Although no AI system currently matches the full range of human capabilities, many already equal´-or-surpass humans in specific fields.

AI is poised to transform human life for the better. In medicine, for example, AI systems can analyze a patient’s lung X-ray against millions of others within seconds, potentially producing more accurate diagnoses than experienced pulmonologists. Some scientists even argue that breakthroughs in biotechnology and AI may eventually overcome biological aging and extend human life by centuries—perhaps even to the point of “artificial immortality.”

AI will also play a central role in strengthening cybersecurity. However, the same technology is being leveraged by cybercriminals, accelerating the scale and sophistication of cyberattacks that already cost governments, businesses, and individuals billions of dollars annually. As our dependence on digital systems continues to grow - especially with the spread of the Internet of Things (IoT)- everything from cars and security cameras to home appliances becomes vulnerable to exploitation. The cost of such vulnerabilities may soon force individuals to reconsider their reliance on technology.

Privacy concerns have moved to the forefront of public debate with the rapid deployment of AI tools. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022, is based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) architecture and is designed to understand and produce human-like text. While OpenAI itself restricts access in certain countries such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, Italy became the first Western country to ban ChatGPT temporarily due to alleged violations of the EU’s data protection laws. In parallel, Western governments have banned the Chinese-owned app TikTok from government devices, reflecting national security rather than privacy concerns. TikTok is fully banned in India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Jordan as well.

Meanwhile, China has advanced a different vision of digital governance through its Social Credit System (SCS). By integrating big data analytics, facial recognition, and AI algorithms, the SCS evaluates the “trustworthiness” of individuals and businesses based on financial behavior, social conduct, and legal compliance. High scores come with rewards such as access to loans, while low scores may result in travel restrictions—demonstrating a trade-off many Chinese citizens have been willing to accept for perceived social and economic benefits.

Governments worldwide are intervening more -dir-ectly in digital spaces. While they justify such measures as necessary to protect citizens’ privacy and security, the reality is more complex. States have historically shown little hesitation in collecting citizens’ data for their own purposes, yet are unwilling to allow foreign powers similar access. China was early in asserting digital sovereignty by building the “Great Firewall,” banning major U.S.-based platforms like Google, YouTube, and Facebook, and developing its own internet ecosystem.

The accelerating evolution of AI presents new challenges to societies and political systems. “Zero-click” hacking tools and deepfakes, AI-generated synthetic media capable of fabricating highly realistic videos, audio,´-or-images, pose unprecedented risks for misinformation, propaganda, and public manipulation. For instance, deepfakes could depict politicians making false statements´-or-engaging in fabricated behavior, potentially destabilizing democracies and influencing elections.

Beyond security, AI’s socioeconomic impact may reshape the labor market. While AI will create new types of jobs, it is likely to replace millions of existing ones, often requiring skills that displaced workers lack, creating a transitional gap that could trigger social instability. This may push governments to adopt policies such as Universal Basic Income (UBI) to maintain social cohesion.

Ultimately, as nations compete to protect their data, economies, and citizens from the risks associated with AI, the world may move toward fragmented digital ecosystems, where countries´-or-alliances build their own sovereign internets. What began as a global, open internet may evolve into separated digital blocs-;- each governed by distinct political values, regulations, and technological systems.

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