Beyond Accidents and Misuse: Decoding the Structural Risk Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence

Fuente: arXiv
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Autor principal: Kilian, Kyle A
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Kilian, Kyle A
author_facet Kilian, Kyle A
contents As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in the core functions of social, political, and economic life, it catalyzes structural transformations with far-reaching societal implications. This paper advances the concept of structural risk by introducing a framework grounded in complex systems research to examine how rapid AI integration can generate emergent, system-level dynamics beyond conventional, proximate threats such as system failures or malicious misuse. It argues that such risks are both influenced by and constitutive of broader sociotechnical structures. We classify structural risks into three interrelated categories: antecedent structural causes, antecedent AI system causes, and deleterious feedback loops. By tracing these interactions, we show how unchecked AI development can destabilize trust, shift power asymmetries, and erode decision-making agency across scales. To anticipate and govern these dynamics, the paper proposes a methodological agenda incorporating scenario mapping, simulation, and exploratory foresight. We conclude with policy recommendations aimed at cultivating institutional resilience and adaptive governance strategies for navigating an increasingly volatile AI risk landscape.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_14873
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publishDate 2024
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spellingShingle Beyond Accidents and Misuse: Decoding the Structural Risk Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence
Kilian, Kyle A
Computers and Society
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in the core functions of social, political, and economic life, it catalyzes structural transformations with far-reaching societal implications. This paper advances the concept of structural risk by introducing a framework grounded in complex systems research to examine how rapid AI integration can generate emergent, system-level dynamics beyond conventional, proximate threats such as system failures or malicious misuse. It argues that such risks are both influenced by and constitutive of broader sociotechnical structures. We classify structural risks into three interrelated categories: antecedent structural causes, antecedent AI system causes, and deleterious feedback loops. By tracing these interactions, we show how unchecked AI development can destabilize trust, shift power asymmetries, and erode decision-making agency across scales. To anticipate and govern these dynamics, the paper proposes a methodological agenda incorporating scenario mapping, simulation, and exploratory foresight. We conclude with policy recommendations aimed at cultivating institutional resilience and adaptive governance strategies for navigating an increasingly volatile AI risk landscape.
title Beyond Accidents and Misuse: Decoding the Structural Risk Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence
topic Computers and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.14873