Perspective: The dark side of AI

Photo: James Steinberg for the Deseret News

We frequently hear in the 21st century that data is the new oil. Those who controlled oil flows in the 1970s had a near stranglehold on the global economy. Today, those who hold data might well control the new economy. Data, however, is diffuse, hard to track and nearly impossible to regulate, which could have unparalleled implications for human rights and religious freedom.

Big data companies have poured billions into research to bring technology and data into direct contact with us every day through artificial intelligence.