How dangerous is artificial intelligence? Carina Stöttner on Rai Tagesschau
The biggest risks of AI don’t lie in a machine that takes on a life of its own, but in how we use it. That is the core message of futurist and sociologist Carina Stöttner. On the occasion of Digital ConnecT in Bolzano, she spoke about it on Rai Radio’s morning show and on Rai South Tyrol’s evening news, Tagesschau.
Moral panic, not doomsday
Stöttner considers a dark AI scenario far less likely than it is often portrayed. In her view, the debate is shaped by a kind of “moral panic” that regularly accompanies new technologies. When the railway arrived, people feared that high speeds would cause blindness.
According to Stöttner, some warnings also serve strategic purposes: whoever warns of the dangers also presents themselves as the one holding the reins.
AI is only as powerful as we let it be
Modern AI systems can act autonomously to a certain extent, and that brings new risks. But they need servers, energy and data centres, and they cannot accumulate unlimited power. “An AI is only as powerful as the access we give it to this world,” says Stöttner.
Critical decisions or entire infrastructures should therefore not be handed over to AI without scrutiny. What’s needed are clear legal frameworks and ethical guardrails.
What companies should do now
Stöttner advises South Tyrolean businesses not to invest in AI tools out of fear of missing out. First, it should be clear which problem needs solving. For trades, hospitality and retail, she sees great potential in administration: scheduling appointments, invoicing, handling enquiries.
What people enjoy doing and take pride in, however, should stay with them. “If I take away that part, the core competence, then I also take away some of what people look forward to at work every day,” says Stöttner.
Trust, too, remains human. AI can detect patterns in large amounts of data, for example in breast cancer diagnostics, often earlier than humans can. But no one wants to hear a serious diagnosis from a computer voice. Especially in family-run businesses in hospitality and tourism, personal contact is often what makes the difference.
Not human versus machine
Stöttner’s conclusion: the key question is not “human or machine”, but where people create greater value, and where AI can provide meaningful support.
Listen and watch (in German):