At VivaTech in Paris, Meredith Whittaker, CEO of encrypted messaging app Signal, cautioned against the unchecked embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, highlighting their dependence on mass surveillance.
Meredith Whittaker, also the founder of the AI Now Institute at New York University, emphasized that contemporary AI tools thrive on vast datasets, primarily sourced from mass surveillance practices.
She underscored the concerning power imbalances arising from the tech industry’s reliance on personal data extraction, controlled by a few dominant players lacking accountability.
Meredith Whittaker criticized the AI industry’s direction, noting how its purported solutions, like addressing climate change, often serve commercial interests rather than societal benefit.
Advocating for alternative tech frameworks prioritizing democratic values, she urged Europeans to steer away from competing with large American AI firms and instead focus on developing inclusive, rights-preserving technologies.
