Digital Feudalism: Humanity Working for Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence systems can seem like a miracle even to those who understand their logic well. When we converse with them, it feels as if we are speaking to a professional psychologist. We ask them to write articles, assist us in coding, and even analyze our medical test results before consulting a doctor.

We didn’t expect AI to reach this level so soon. At one point, it was said that these systems would never be able to generate new ideas, but that point has long been surpassed. In reality, artificial intelligence compiles information from its vast database and presents a result to us. Since humans do not possess such an extensive knowledge base, we perceive these outputs as “new ideas.” However, what AI actually provides is merely a combination of ideas already produced by humans. For artificial intelligence to maintain its productivity, it must constantly be fed with new data. Only then can we continue to obtain up-to-date and effective results, perceiving previously existing knowledge as fresh ideas.

This is not to belittle artificial intelligence. On the contrary, it has already begun to change our lives more than we realize. In the near future, many jobs will be handed over to AI systems. In fact, I believe that it will eventually become impossible to avoid delegating all our work to artificial intelligence.

Digital Feudalism: Humanity Working for Artificial Intelligence

Humanity Working for AI: The Data Cycle and AI’s Hunger

Artificial intelligence systems survive by continuously consuming new data, and it is humans who generate this data. If these systems are not fed with human-generated information, they will enter a self-perpetuating cycle.

Today, AI-generated articles, news, social media posts, videos, and images are becoming the norm. These contents are derived from the information already created by humans on the internet. However, as human input decreases, the proportion of new and original content will diminish accordingly, leading to a self-referential loop. Eventually, the generated content will become meaningless.

For example, when an AI-generated news article is cited by another AI as a source, this feedback loop deepens. This poses one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of artificial intelligence.

Humanity’s New Role

Every job we do today may one day be performed by AI or robots equipped with these systems. However, these systems will require continuous development and updates. This creates a new job field: feeding artificial intelligence!

In fields such as medicine, engineering, and many others, there will be a need for people who will improve AI and teach it new information. As a result, companies managing AI development may need to compensate contributors for their generated data.

This does not only concern professional occupations. In our daily lives, we may also have to “sell” our experiences to AI systems. Since we use AI not only for professional tasks but also for everyday matters, this situation could lead to mutual dependency.

AI-Human Dependency

Just as AI depends on us, we are becoming increasingly dependent on AI. This dependency is already evident in areas such as content writing and software development.

As this dependency grows, people will have to continuously pay for AI services, creating an economic cycle and balance.

The Risks of the New World

The primary concern here is that humanity may become nothing more than a data source. While this idea may seem distant now, social media platforms already use us as data sources. With the increasing prevalence of AI-driven systems, it is entirely possible that we could eventually become mere data providers.

Perhaps in the future, we will find ourselves selling our personal data. But in this new world, what will we truly become? Will we be more free, or will we turn into slaves of AI systems and the corporations that control them?