AI Is Failing Regular People, and That's Not Because of Marketing

The tech industry has been trying to make the case for its investments in AI by pointing out that it can automate jobs, collect data, and optimize business processes. However, a growing number of people are rejecting this approach, citing concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the loss of human experience. According to recent polls, Gen Z is particularly wary of AI, with 31 percent of respondents expressing anger towards the technology. This sentiment is being fueled by politicians who are opposing data center buildouts and punishing those who support them. A key part of this resistance is a philosophical difference between the tech industry’s approach – known as software brain – and how regular people experience the world. Software brain views everything in terms of databases that can be controlled with structured language, but this perspective fails to account for the complexity and ambiguity of human life. Regular people don’t see automation as an opportunity; instead, they feel threatened by the idea of being constantly surveilled and monitored. The tech industry’s focus on flattening people into a database using AI is alienating many potential users, particularly those who value their privacy and autonomy. The gap between software brain and human experience is so wide that it’s causing tech companies to struggle with selling smart home automation and other products to regular people. While AI is exciting for those who see the world as an opportunity for automation and optimization, it’s a demanding and invasive technology for everyone else.