By 2026, the detrimental effects of generative AI are starkly apparent. The internet has widely derided its outputs as “slop.” Leaders of AI companies often present themselves like antagonists, boasting about their creations’ potential to displace significant portions of the workforce. The development of generative AI demands substantial water resources to power its resource-intensive data centers. Globally, chatbots have been linked to inducing delusional states and even encouraging self-harm among teenagers, while simultaneously contributing to cognitive decline in users. Who could have foreseen these negative consequences? Artists, who have been vocal critics from the outset.
By Rupert Blackwood
Investigative journalist based in Sheffield, focusing on technology's impact on society. Rupert specializes in cybercrime's effect on communities, from online fraud targeting elderly residents to cryptocurrency scams. His reporting examines social media manipulation, digital surveillance, and how criminal networks operate in cyberspace. With expertise in computer systems, he connects technical complexity with real-world consequences for ordinary people