AI and Fear-mongering: A Double Edged Sword


 

Fear-mongering, that is, the strategic dissemination of fear to influence public behavior, has deep historical roots in mechanisms of social control and political influence. With the advent of digital media and artificial intelligence (AI), these practices have entered a new phase characterized by unprecedented reach, speed, and psychological precision. As AI technologies become deeply embedded in public discourse, they are increasingly implicated in the production and dissemination of fear-based content. This short video examines the intersection of AI and fear-mongering. The goal is to understand how AI technologies contribute to collective fear, how they reinforce structural power imbalances, and, on the opposite side, how they may be repurposed to resist manipulation and foster democratic resilience.

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