In my opinion, privacy is going to be the pivot point to the ultimate success of AI and the Internet of Things. For example, the ability of IOT to capture health factors for an individual allows for applications to make suggestions, or even control different features that improve the quality of life for an individual. Those kinds of applications require a great degree of personal information. However, if that same information is made available to Health Insurance companies, it can have a dramatic impact on the availability and affordability of health services and insurance.
Because IOT utilizes the internet, it is possible that data may be captured by services of which you are not aware. I know that many of the “FREE” apps we love to download for our phones track an amazing amount of data, all of which we agree to share, without really taking into account the possible uses.
Are we adopting IOT capabilities because it provides additional Quality of Life? Have we taken time to ask ourselves if IOT, AI and Robotics are something we should do from a social engineering perspective? We know we have the technology to do many great things, but will it really make a positive impact to our lives in general?
When I see groups of people walking together in a public place, and none of them interact with each other, because they are focused on their cell phone and social media, I wonder what the improvement really is. When getting tasks done at work take much longer than the traditional phone call, did we really gain anything?
Returning to the concept of privacy, I have some observations. There is information specific to me personally that make sense for enhancing my life. If a store can be more efficient (translated as profitable) by watching how I shop and what I purchase, I don’t find that offensive. It helps them provide the right product just in time. However, if a store is gathering this information with the purpose of selling the captured data so that advertisers can target me in other ways, I find that intrusive.
Another way my personal information may be shared that I find less intrusive is when it is bundled based on different attributes. When they predict that 50% males over 50 are more likely to purchase hair color, I don’t mind that kind of information being shared if I am simply a part of the 50% aggregate. The same principle applies to personal health information.
Do we need to have the ability to opt out on sharing personal information? If so, are there applications we have a right to use, regardless of our desire to share information? What about governmental agencies tracking information they capture through our use of the internet or phone systems?
It feels to me like we really need to nail down some principles of privacy, what can be shared, and how is it shared, quickly before this becomes an issue in the judicial system. The vacuum will be filled. IOT is here. AI is here. Robotics is here. We need to get prepared.
Cheers,
Ben