The social aspect is one of the most important aspects of the impact of the accelerated and unprecedented change in the world, especially at the technological and scientific level of what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), in particular in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The social aspect is closely associated with the reality of society in different countries in terms of the influence it has on the identity and values, patterns of relationships, sources of stability and tension, and the nature of the relationship with other societies, among other aspects. In this regard, it is imperative that specialists, especially sociologists, economists, and others, pay more attention to studying the social implications of change because it concerns social security, which lies at the heart of the national security of every country.
Moreover, it touches on the very existence of humanity in light of the technological advancements that change everything on Earth, beginning with the status of human beings themselves in this universe. Stephen Hawking, the late British physicist, warned that AI might pave the way for the end of the human race. It is a warning that entails no exaggeration at all once we know that research is being conducted to manufacture robots that can feel, love, hate and respond to stimuli, as well as have the capability for self-development.
Generally speaking, one cannot talk about a single aspect of any change regardless of its size, nature, or field; there are always two, even several, aspects. Change undoubtedly has many positive social impacts. First, the great technological development, especially in the field of communications and social media, has deepened communication among societies that differ in terms of religion, language, customs, traditions, etc. This enhances the values of openness and acceptance of the other in these communities, and counters the negative effects of distorted or false stereotypes held by certain societies or nations about other societies. This may strengthen the pillars of social peace, on the one hand, and serve world peace, on the other.
Second, modern technology contributes to the creation of effective, fast, and non-traditional mechanisms to detect imbalances in societies instead of the slow, complex, and inefficient traditional mechanisms. Modern technology also provides more efficient, rapid, and professional service delivery tools, which can lead to satisfaction within the society and reduce causes of tension.
Third, technology, especially AI techniques, contributes significantly to the identification and analysis of interactions, ideas, and trends within society. Thus, it can assist in predicting the path of stability and instability in addition to locating the sources of danger and addressing them proactively.
On the other hand, change has several negative social implications that need be taken into account. First, the ability to infiltrate societies and influence their ideas and trends has become greater and more dangerous than ever. Countries harnessing AI technology possess a staggering capability to influence societies in other countries, especially those with no access to such technology and lack the necessary defence mechanisms.
Logic of machine to prevail
Second, change may negatively affect values that have, for long years, guaranteed the cohesion, strength, and stability of societies. The machine would dominate all aspects of life and compete against humans in all fields, which would result in the gradual decline of human values such as cooperation, empathy, solidarity and other social values. The logic of the machine would prevail in society, and humanitarian considerations would become less important, which can lead to an increased tendency toward conflict and violence.
Third, the communication technology has led to the spread of foreign cultures across societies and facilitated the flow of new ideas, trends and cultures. In turn, this has led to the emergence of racial, isolationist and nationalistic cultural tendencies in some societies as a response to a real, or imagined, foreign cultural “invasion” and in defence of identity and cultural specificities. Several societies gradually began to lose, consciously or unconsciously, their identities in favour of the dominance of migrant foreign cultures. These societies are no longer capable of averting this threat and thus become conducive to the emergence of extremist tendencies to counter such foreign cultures or at least to preserve local cultures and prevent their extinction or disappearance.
Fourth, modern technology, namely the communications revolution and AI products, create many complex problems, which could disrupt the stability of societies for a number of reasons, the most important of which is the increase in unemployment rates due to the “automation” of jobs. Furthermore, technology helps spread such concepts as freedom, human rights, and democracy in different societies, which would cause tensions and protests in some societies.
Moreover, technology provides uncontrolled channels that serve these protests as was the case in Egypt, for example, during the so-called Arab Spring, where technology provided alternatives to overcome the government’s disconnection of internet services. The openness of societies to each other as a result of the communications revolution increases anger, resentment and dissatisfaction in poor, underdeveloped, and undemocratic societies, as they compare themselves to rich, developed, and democratic societies. There are even reports and studies which indicate that AI can increase the rate of “spinsterhood” in some societies because of the significant development in the field of “sex robots” that would soon be programmed to express emotions.
These negative and positive implications of change are neither identical nor inevitable in all societies. They vary in nature and impact from one society to another according to the nature of the society itself and its ability and readiness to deal rationally with this change. There is no doubt that developed countries which own and actively engage in modern technology, especially AI, and have advanced and developed societies, as well as informed and educated people, would be able to expand the positive effects of change and mitigate the negative ones.
Dealing with change
An opposite reality would prevail in traditional societies, alien to technology and modern science where people do not have the capacity to deal with such technology, as they lack the necessary education, skills, and culture, among others. This applies to several Arab societies, which are facing a complex problem in terms of dealing with change and its social implications. Some Arab societies suffer from structural or fundamental problems that prevent them from reaping the benefits of change in the world or responding to it appropriately. One of the most important problems is the spread of illiteracy in its traditional sense. The world is now talking about computer and internet illiteracy while the Arab world still suffers from reading and writing illiteracy in the 21st century. Additionally, some Arab societies are still strongly attached to the past at a time when the world is advancing.
These societies are still encapsulated in the past because they might have no achievement in the present to boast about, or because there are movements that believe in the “past” and think that the recipe for advancement emanates from the past. They believe that the foundation upon which Arabs and Muslims once built their glory in the past is still valid for the present and future. Therefore, they have neglected science and technology. In addition, several Arab societies embraced superficial change instead of becoming a driver of it. Thus, they indulged in consuming the products of change whereby the values of unsound consumption took hold of them.
Consequently, they do not realise the values, significance and principles behind this change and its inventions such as diligence, effort, order, respect for work, science, reason, law, or scientific research. In many Arab countries, we remain consumers of, and not contributors to, change. The dilemma of Arab societies in dealing with change and its implications is increased because among some of these societies prevails a kind of suspicion toward any change. Those societies assume that change targets our identity, authenticity and values. There are some societies which have even embraced rejection of change as a fundamental principle.
In this context, I believe that 4IR will radically change societies in the world. Any resistance to this change would be meaningless because change is inevitable. Hence, the well-informed societies are the ones that take the necessary steps and prepare their citizens to deal with change, today before tomorrow. Societies that do not assume the initiative have to wait for their destiny to be determined by others, and many of these societies, unfortunately, are Arab societies.
Dr Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi is a UAE author and Director-General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.
