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For years, the idea of advanced robots and machines completing common tasks has tantalized authors, filmmakers, and the general public. Works that took place in an idealized future, such as the 1960s animated sitcom The Jetsons, were immensely popular, and for good reason. Who wouldn’t want to live in a world where robots can vacuum your house, control your lights, or even start your car? This prevalence of these hypothetical technologies made everyone dream of a future where machines could handle many of the minute, everyday tasks that many abhorred.

Today, that future has undoubtedly arrived. With the necessary hardware, everyday people can tell their machines to turn on the lights, vacuum the house, and start their car. Many of the technological wonders that were fictionally highlighted in The Jetsons are a reality now. Simply put, we are living in an idealized future, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). While AI has been in the works for decades, it has truly flourished in the past ten years. Now, nearly every new piece of technology utilizes AI in some form or another. So, as we enter a future that is likely to be dominated by artificial intelligence, it’s important to be aware of the history, uses, drawbacks, and future of this fledgling technology.

The History of AI

In the 1940s, neurologists discovered that the brain is powered by neurons, cells that can communicate using electricity. This breakthrough suggested that, if the brain could make decisions using electricity, so could a machine. Following this revelation, programmers and scientists worked vehemently to research the possibility of artificial intelligence. In 1950, famed computer scientist Alan Turing developed what he called an “imitation game” using artificial intelligence^[1]. In this game, there are three participants: A player who asks questions, a human who responds to the player’s questions, and a computer that responds to the player’s questions. While this test didn’t really determine if machines could think like humans, it determined if machines could come to the same conclusions as humans. While Turing’s experiment was only a game at the end of the day, it was a promising first step for the theory of artificial intelligence.

For decades after Turing, artificial intelligence remained mostly experimental. However, beginning in the 1990s, the exponential increase in computer processing power allowed AI to be developed into useful products. In fact, in 1997, IBM’s chess software, Deep Blue, became the first AI program to beat a reigning world chess champion^[2]. Additionally, in 2011, IBM’s question-answering program Watson handily beat two of Jeopardy’s winningest contestants in a match of the famous quiz show^[3]. While these two examples were only used in games, they publicly showed just how powerful AI could be.

However, during the development of these innocuous AI software programs, another form of AI was being developed as well: Facial recognition software. Although certainly different from quiz shows and chess programs, facial recognition programs use similar AI techniques to analyze faces from images. Using AI, these systems are able to analyze a face, then match that face to a picture in an existing database. As the technology advanced, businesses began to sell the technology nationwide, particularly to law enforcement groups^[4]. Ultimately, while innocent AI programs like Watson and Deep Blue enjoyed national press, programs that had serious consequences were being developed quietly as well.

The State of AI Today

In the business sector today, AI is utilized in nearly every facet of operation. One department that especially uses AI is marketing and customer acquisition. From automated emails to AI-powered chatbots, artificial intelligence can be used to advertise your business to new and existing customers. In human resources, AI can sift through applications quickly, allowing managers to spend less time searching for qualified candidates. In manufacturing, AI can track inventory and even anticipate demand^[5]. Today, the most successful businesses utilize artificial intelligence in order to maximize their efficiency. These powerful machines can do things at a speed that humans simply can’t reach. It’s no wonder why AI has been embraced so extensively by the business world.

While efficiency-maximizing AI has been welcomed around the world by businesses, more controversial forms of AI have been embraced as well. In recent years, facial recognition programs have grown more popular, and are being used by law enforcement, security companies, and even social media sites. Additionally, many AI programs built for consumers are little more than extra ways to collect data. For example, Amazon’s Echo device was one of the first AI assistants and quickly became popular after release. Soon, Amazon set the Echo’s price so low that the company was selling them at a loss^[6]. However, because of the vast amount of valuable data Amazon would get back, this strategy was sound. Ultimately, AI has become extremely popular for both businesses and consumers, significantly due to companies’ everlasting desire for our data.

Concerns of AI and Facial Recognition

Every AI program runs on datasets, but if those datasets are biased, then the entire program can be biased as well. And when it comes to bias, few programs are more criticized than facial recognition software. In fact, researchers found large amounts of racial and gender bias in AI programs sold by IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft^[7]. In this research, the author found the programs’ facial recognition software had an extreme amount of bias. For example, the software had less than a 1% error rate for lighter-skinned men, but a 35% error rate for darker-skinned women^[7]. This is because the datasets that these AI programs run on simply aren’t diverse enough. Unfortunately, these errors can have devastating consequences. False positives from facial recognition software have led to a countless number of unjustified arrests, disproportionately harming racial minorities^[8]. Although facial recognition has been helpful to some degree, its unequal consequences cannot be ignored.

While it’s true that AI programs can offer extraordinary benefits, those benefits don’t come free. In reality, they’re further eroding what little privacy we have left. We’re willingly buying listening devices from a massive company with a less-than-stellar record on privacy in exchange for convenience. While some people may be willing to make this sacrifice, it doesn’t have to be this way. The incredible benefits of AI don’t have to be paired with this massive violation of privacy.

So, what’s the solution for better AI? First, datasets need greater diversity, particularly in the case of facial recognition. In order to truly be effective, AI needs to be representative of the general population. But because of biased AI datasets, these programs are helping some, but actively harming others. Additionally, legislation ought to be passed that minimizes Big Tech’s reliance on data collection. Today, many people refuse to try the most popular AI programs because of their overreliance on data collection. If Big Tech became less obsessed with our data, we could enjoy the benefits of AI without trading away our information.

About AXEL

At AXEL, we know the best businesses have valued privacy for decades. Now, in a world full of cybercrime and data collection, digital privacy is more important than ever before. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

Footnotes

^[1] “Turing Test.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Turing-test

^[2] Saletan, William. “The Triumphant Teamwork of Humans and Computers.” Slate Magazine. Slate, May 11, 2007. https://slate.com/technology/2007/05/the-triumphant-teamwork-of-humans-and-computers.html

^[3] Markoff, John. “Computer Wins on ‘Jeopardy!’: Trivial, It’s Not.” The New York Times. The New York Times, February 16, 2011. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/science/17jeopardy-watson.html

^[4] Valentino-Devries, Jennifer. “How the Police Use Facial Recognition, and Where It Falls Short.” The New York Times. The New York Times, January 12, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/technology/facial-recognition-police.html

^[5] Marr, Bernard. “10 Business Functions That Are Ready to Use Artificial Intelligence.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2020/03/30/10-business-functions-that-are-ready-to-use-artificial-intelligence/?sh=2df649c43068

^[6] Smith, Rich. “Did Amazon Lose $100 Million Selling Its Most Popular Item?” The Motley Fool. The Motley Fool, January 8, 2018. https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/01/08/did-amazon-lose-100-million-selling-its-most-popul.aspx

^[7] Buolamwini, Joy. “Artificial Intelligence Has a Racial and Gender Bias Problem.” Time. Time, February 7, 2019. https://time.com/5520558/artificial-intelligence-racial-gender-bias/

^[8] Najibi, Alex. “Racial Discrimination in Face Recognition Technology.” Science in the News. Harvard University, October 26, 2020. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/racial-discrimination-in-face-recognition-technology/

If someone only watched Big Tech advertisements, they’d believe that these massive conglomerates are bastions of digital privacy. In the past few years, companies like Facebook and Google have inundated the airwaves with ads that highlight the companies’ efforts to protect user privacy. However, the one company that has worked the hardest to cultivate a secure and private image is Apple. Privacy was even the subject of a slick, wide-ranging marketing campaign for the company^[1]. Today, digital privacy is being marketed like a new product, and every company is claiming to value and protect your data. But how much of the marketing is accurate, and how much is just PR?

Here’s the truth: Big Tech corporations have taken steps to better protect users’ data in recent years, but there’s still a long, long way to go. Overall, it is a positive step that corporations are claiming to value digital privacy. After all, these widespread marketing campaigns have increased consumer awareness of digital privacy and its importance. However, while these companies claim they value privacy, they ultimately value the status quo more. This has led to the situation we’re in now: Companies are making small digital privacy improvements, primarily for good PR, but avoid going after the root of the problem.

What Steps Has Big Tech Taken?

You probably already know this, but Big Tech has mountains of data on billions of people around the world. These companies collect as much information as possible and then use that information to target you with specific advertisements. From simple things like name and date of birth to more private pieces of information like political affiliation, religion, and relationship status, Big Tech knows a lot about you, and they use this information to inundate your computer with personalized ads^[2]. And don’t think that ads are just a small part of Big Tech’s revenue. 98% of Facebook’s revenue comes from advertisements^[3], highlighting just how vital data collection is to these Silicon Valley corporations.

This is why you should take Big Tech’s privacy claims with a grain of salt. Collecting mounds of user data is the lifeblood of Big Tech giants, so they aren’t about to make any changes that significantly impact their bottom line. So the next time you see a Google or Amazon ad claiming that they care about data privacy, just remember how those companies really earn their money. Judging by their revenue streams, the Big Tech giants aren’t really technology companies — they’re middlemen between you and advertisers.

But here’s the thing: Some companies actually have taken positive steps to better protect users’ digital privacy. For example, Google is phasing out the third-party cookie, a notorious program that tracked users and permanently stored their data^[4]. Additionally, Apple has begun to allow users to “ask apps not to track” their data^[5]. These are undeniably positive steps that put more power in the hands of users. While these changes won’t end Big Tech’s data-hungry behavior, overall, it’s a positive development.

What’s Behind Big Tech’s Privacy Push?

Unfortunately, Big Tech’s changes don’t go nearly far enough. Most of the changes that Big Tech companies have implemented simply alter how companies handle data once it’s already been collected. Now, is Google’s alternative to the third-party cookie more secure? Definitely. But the company is still collecting your data and storing it on their servers in order to advertise to you. The fundamental process of data collecting has not changed one bit, making it seem that Big Tech companies are simply looking to score PR points, rather than committing to actual change. Could that change in the future? It’s possible, but remember: Big Tech’s main clients are advertisers, not us. Unless a new way to deliver targeted ads without data collection is discovered, the current situation will likely continue.

We may have to get used to incremental change, rather than a digital privacy revolution. After all, nearly every Big Tech company spends millions each year in lobbying to shoot down bills that threaten their data collection processes. In fact, Facebook alone spent over USD $20 million in 2021 to lobby Congress to oppose any new regulations that give too much choice to consumers^[6]. Big Tech companies don’t just stop at lobbying either. In Virginia, Amazon and Microsoft supported a privacy bill that, while adding some new regulations, failed to put power in the hands of users. The new bill is filled with loopholes and explicitly forbids users from suing tech companies for violating their privacy^[7]. Big Tech loves to talk a big game regarding digital privacy, but when it comes down to it, they’ll do everything possible to prevent changes to the status quo.

How to Make Big Tech Prioritize Privacy

The best way to prioritize user privacy is to pass wide-ranging, enforceable legislation that would actually make Big Tech uncomfortable. For so long, these companies have collected and stored mountains of data on billions of people, while only making trivial improvements to their digital privacy policies. Ultimately, that’s why we can’t trust Big Tech to regulate itself — they’ll never voluntarily change their fundamental business model. Therefore, it’s up to politicians and regulators to force Big Tech into making legitimate, lasting change for good.

One law that has made a significant impact is the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Under GDPR, websites must ask users for consent to collect their data, and it allows users to request the deletion of their personal data from a site^[8]. Make no mistake; these are genuinely positive steps toward empowering users. But for the people that live under GDPR’s jurisdiction, many feel that little has changed.

This feeling can be attributed to the “opt-out” nature of data collection under GDPR. Websites like Google and Facebook make it much easier to agree to data tracking than opting out of it. Agreeing to data collection requires just one click, while getting out of it requires navigating complicated options menus for every site. Big Tech knows that this model isn’t too disruptive, as the vast majority of people will simply accept tracking, rather than dealing with the headache of opting out. A truly effective solution would be to change data collection into an “opt-in” feature. Under this method, users would automatically be excluded from data collection, but could opt-in if they wished. Of course, this method would undoubtedly draw the ire of Big Tech, but it would be a significant improvement for data privacy. In 2019, Edward Snowden called GDPR “a good first effort … but it’s not a solution^[8].” Ultimately, although GDPR and other regulations aren’t as effective as we may have hoped, they’re still positive steps toward a more secure, private Internet for all.

About AXEL

Big Tech may not care about your digital privacy, but we do. At AXEL, we know millions of individuals and businesses demand affordable, secure, and intuitive file-sharing software. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

^[1] Wuerthele, Mike. “’Privacy. That’s iPhone Ad Campaign Launches, Highlights Apple’s Stance on User Protection.” AppleInsider. AppleInsider, March 14, 2019. https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/03/14/privacy-thats-iphone-ad-campaign-launches-highlights-apples-stance-on-user-protection

^[2] Moscaritolo, Angela. “What Does Big Tech Know About You? Basically Everything.” PCMAG. PC Magazine, January 18, 2022. https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-does-big-tech-know-about-you-basically-everything

^[3] “Facebook Ad Revenue 2009-2020.” Statista, February 18, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271258/facebooks-advertising-revenue-worldwide/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20about%2097.9%20percent,increase%20in%20comparison%20to%20the

^[4] Low, Cherlynn. “Google Is Testing a New Replacement for Third-Party Cookies.” Engadget, February 28, 2022. https://www.engadget.com/google-topics-api-privacy-sandbox-third-party-cookie-replacement-130049935.html

^[5] Mayo, Benjamin. “What Does ‘Ask App Not to Track’ Mean?” 9to5Mac, April 27, 2021. https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/27/what-does-ask-app-not-to-track-mean/

^[6] Birnbaum, Emily. “Facebook’s Lobbying Spending Surged to a Record in 2021.” POLITICO. POLITICO, January 21, 2022. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/21/facebook-lobbying-spending-2021-527577

^[7] Tsukayama, Hayley. “Virginians Deserve Better than This Empty Privacy Law.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, February 24, 2021. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/02/virginians-deserve-better-empty-privacy-law

^[8] Hare, Stephanie. “These New Rules Were Meant to Protect Our Privacy. They Don’t Work.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, November 10, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/10/these-new-rules-were-meant-to-protect-our-privacy-they-dont-work

What comes to mind when you think of the word “business?” Many people will think of stereotypical corporate activities, like signing documents, sitting in cubicles, or swimming in a sea of never-ending black and blue suits. While all three of these things still permeate throughout the business world, all three are also becoming less popular. Think about it: Physically signing documents is a rarity; many businesses use e-signatures today. Cubicles are being phased out in favor of remote work. And instead of fancy suits, we’re seeing our coworkers in more casual clothes (if we even see them in the office at all).

Business is changing. Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, every industry changes with time. But business is different. In order to survive, businesses have to evolve constantly and embrace new technologies that give them an edge over the competition. If they don’t, they’ll be left in the dust by smarter, more modern companies. Because of this, businesses have often been the first to widely adopt and implement innovative technology. But they aren’t just using technology to complement their existing practices; tech is now the backbone of every facet of business. Ultimately, the industry’s willingness to try new technology has helped usher in the digital era that we live in today. Technology hasn’t just helped business; it has evolved business from the ground up.

How Tech Changed Communications

It’s easy to forget, but just a few decades ago, business communication was radically different than it is today. Before the Internet, businesses relied on physical papers and snail mail to communicate. Internally, businesses needed a dedicated mail worker who transferred documents from one employee to another. For team-wide updates, papers had to be posted on a bulletin board to be seen. For external communications, businesses could use telephones to communicate, but if they needed to send a document, they had to rely on mail services. While, individually, none of these tasks are particularly burdensome, that lost time lost adds up. Mail could take a few hours to organize, international shipping could last weeks, and office telephones only worked when employees were at their desks. Before the Internet, businesses tried their best to maximize efficiency, but without modern technology, communications could be painfully slow.

Needless to say, communications at top businesses aren’t like this anymore. The turning point for businesses was the invention of email. All of a sudden, employees could communicate with each other immediately, and even attach documents digitally. As soon as email adoption became widespread in business, the business tech floodgates opened. Today, business software like Slack and Microsoft Teams allows coworkers to communicate instantaneously.

However, this tech isn’t without drawbacks. Because of how easy it is to communicate with coworkers, many employees feel like they can’t escape the office. After all, today’s smartphones can easily handle emails and video calls, ensuring that the office will always be able to contact us, no matter where we are. To that point, many businesses even require workers to respond to emails on weekends and vacations. Ultimately, business communication has become so fast and simple that many workers have trouble escaping the constant connection of their workplace.

How Tech Helps Reach Customers

One of the most difficult aspects of running a business is consistently finding new customers. Regulars are great, but in order for a business to truly thrive, it needs a plan to find and convert leads into customers. Before the Internet, this process was relatively simple. Word-of-mouth, networking, and the occasional newspaper ad were the only ways businesses could seek out new customers. Of these three, word-of-mouth was the most important, as businesses lived and died based on their reputation. Before modern technology, reaching new customers wasn’t all that costly. After all, positive word-of-mouth is just about the one thing a business can’t buy.

Today, word-of-mouth is still one of the most important parts of finding new customers, especially for small businesses. The difference, however, is that there are now dozens of ways for businesses to generate that word-of-mouth. Today, the most popular way is utilizing Facebook advertisements. A full 66% of all small business owners in the United States used Facebook to advertise their business^[1]. Ultimately, very few businesses can thrive without the help of the modern Internet. Think about it: If your business has no website, no social media presence, and isn’t listed on Yelp or Google Maps, your business might as well not exist. While finding new customers is much more complex today, the multitude of ways to find new leads helps level the playing field between businesses. Now, your business doesn’t need a century-long reputation in order to succeed; it just needs high-quality digital marketing.

The Rise of Data Analysis

Many business owners may not even be aware of this, but every business uses data analysis to some degree. Simply put, data analysis is the inspection of data about a business and its customers, and making inferences based on that data. One common example is when a coffee shop increases its staffing during the morning rush. The owner knew from previous data that mornings were busier, and then decided to increase staffing to alleviate the rush. For businesses, the simple formula is to collect data, identify patterns in that data, then make predictions based on those patterns^[2]. Even before modern technology, businesses regularly used data analysis to increase productivity and minimize downtime.

So, what’s different about data analysis today? Well, we’re usually not the ones doing it anymore. These days, most high-level data analysis is being done by computers. This makes sense, as computers are able to identify patterns in data much more accurately and quickly than humans. Additionally, data analysis isn’t just used for simple things like managing employee scheduling or choosing what items to stock. For the most successful businesses, data analysis is used in every area of business. From customer acquisition and targeted campaigns to new item development and supply chain management, data analysis helps businesses maximize their efficiency^[3]. 

So, What’s Next?

After looking at all the ways technology has evolved business practices, one thing is for sure: Businesses are not done changing. Simply put, if there’s a way for businesses to increase their revenue, it will be utilized. And the fact is, businesses are becoming more and more reliant on computers and technology than ever before. Things like employee scheduling and data analysis, previously done by workers, are now done by computers. And, frankly, this trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon. Now, this doesn’t mean computers will be the ones running businesses in a few years. But let’s face it: They are already making many of the big decisions at businesses across the world. 

Ultimately, technology makes businesses more efficient. Unfortunately, as businesses rely more on technology, this also means they rely less on workers. Positions including warehouse jobs, customer service, and banking services are slowly being overtaken by technology^[4]. It’s a sad reality, but businesses can simply be more successful with unpaid bots, rather than salaried employees. Again, technology is unlikely to replace human workers en masse any time soon. But as technology becomes more and more advanced, the most successful businesses will rely on tech more than ever before.

About AXEL

Technology is useful in every facet of business, but particularly in the area of cybersecurity. Cybercrime poses a threat to businesses big and small, highlighting the need for affordable cybersecurity solutions. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

^[1] “Leading Social Media Networks Used by Small Businesses to Advertise in the United States in 2021.” Statista, November 18, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/208971/effective-social-media-marketing-tools-for-small-us-businesses/

^[2] “Why Data Analytics Is Critical for Small Businesses.” AirSlate, August 17, 2021. https://blog.airslate.com/why-data-analytics-is-critical-for-small-businesses/

^[3] Mills, Terence. “Council Post: Five Benefits of Big Data Analytics and How Companies Can Get Started.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/11/06/five-benefits-of-big-data-analytics-and-how-companies-can-get-started/?sh=48b2320117e4
^[4] “Council Post: Tech Experts Predict 13 Jobs That Will Be Automated by 2030.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/01/tech-experts-predict-13-jobs-that-will-be-automated-by-2030/?sh=3fc53ffb22bf