In the past, our lives were regulated by people working in various state institutions. In non-democratic regimes, these institutions were often like the KGB (under different names), which, much like Orwell’s “Ministry of Truth,” dictated what to say and what to think. In democratic regimes, this coercion is carried out by “the people” (however we define that term).
Today, “power” is shifting to algorithms. On one hand, algorithms are more “objective”; on the other hand, they cannot understand context, subtext, irony, or metaphor—in short, all the elements that distinguish a human being with a certain “cultural depth” from a program, a system that operates on binary principles.
To clarify, consider this example: In one of my comments, I cited the following “logical” chain as an example of demagoguery, manipulation, or a cognitive “trap”: “You are against smoking, Hitler was also against smoking, therefore you are a fascist.” The social network’s algorithm “caught” the words “Hitler” and “fascist,” concluded that I was promoting Nazism, and removed the comment. It is difficult for an “algorithm” to engage in more nuanced or deeper analysis; only a human being is capable of this.
I do not object to the rules set by any social network. After all, these are platforms whose owners have the right to impose their rules. And since the users number in the millions, only “robots” (programs) that understand the surface level of words or actions can enforce these rules. Now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, these rules are likely to become even more formalized. The troubling consequence of all this is that our thinking is becoming increasingly simplistic, flat, one-dimensional, and one-sided.
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My proposal may seem unexpected. It is not directed at the rulers of the world or Armenia or the owners of social network corporations, because they are, by and large, powerless in this regard. The real audience for my proposal is those who want to teach in schools—not because they are compelled to, but because they aspire to, with important goals in mind.
As long as human teachers have not been replaced by artificial intelligence, let us stand before our students with our human nature, including our weaknesses and mistakes. Let us teach students to break free from primitive, “algorithmic” thinking, to use their imagination, to understand the context of speech and reality, and to develop non-standard, non-linear thinking. After all, every school subject provides this opportunity.
Aram Abrahamyan
