What it is
Like all transformative innovations, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is far from a neutral technology. AI is built within existing political and economic power structures, and it can increase existing inequalities in society, as well as provide astonishing benefits. Today, a small number of powerful nations and big tech companies control most of the computers, algorithms, and microchips needed to build AI. Meanwhile, ordinary people and local communities suffer real-world consequences, such as lost jobs, unfair digital treatment, and environmental damage.
The growing use of AI creates serious environmental and social problems. Richer countries use AI to automate businesses, improve production, and lower labour costs. However, AI data centres use huge amounts of electricity and local water. These centres are often built near low-income communities that have little power to stop them or protect their resources. In addition, many workers lose their jobs to AI automation, while minority languages, local traditions, and non-Western views are often left out of AI search results and responses.
What is algorithmic discrimination? Algorithmic discrimination happens when a computer program treats certain people unfairly because of their race, gender, income, or background. This occurs because the AI was trained on incomplete or biased information. As a result, the program makes unfair decisions—such as rejecting someone for a job, a university course, a loan, or medical treatment based on who they are.
Personal stories
Kenji's story: Kenji, 28, is a skilled software developer applying for jobs at large tech companies. An automated AI hiring system automatically rejected his application within seconds before any human reviewer could look at it. Because the AI model was trained on historical company hiring data, it favours applicants from elite private universities. This unfairly filters out qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds like Kenji.
Natasha’s story: Natasha, 42, lives in a small rural town where a tech company constructed a massive AI data centre. The facility runs powerful computer servers day and night, consuming millions of litres of local groundwater for cooling. During hot summer months, her community now faces strict water rationing and rising electricity bills, leaving local residents to deal with resource shortages caused by AI development.
Saki’s story: Saki, 19, had to research and write a short report on a current social issue for her politics class. Because she was busy, she used an AI tool to write some parts of her report. When the teacher asked her to explain her main ideas and personal opinion, Saki was lost for words. She realised she could not explain the topic in her own words or answer other people's questions because the computer had quickly done a lot of the thinking for her.
Some broader issues
Lack of popular control: Decisions about how AI is developed, trained, and used are made almost entirely by a small number of big tech corporations and political leaders. Everyday citizens and local communities rarely have a say or vote about how these technologies affect their lives, working conditions, or public services.
AI in education: AI is changing how people learn and teach all kinds of subjects, bringing both great benefits and serious challenges. On the positive side, AI can act as a personal tutor for any topic. It can explain difficult maths problems step-by-step, summarise complex science, law, politics, and social issues, and give instant feedback on homework. It can also help teachers to develop new learning activities and materials. However, there are major risks. If students rely too much on AI to answer questions and do assignments, they may stop thinking critically and lose important problem-solving and academic skills such as explaining ideas in their own words. Additionally, teachers find it difficult to know if a student truly understands a topic when AI can generate answers so easily.
Misinformation and deepfakes: It is becoming very easy to create realistic fake images, voices, and news stories. These fake files spread quickly on social media, making it hard for people to know what is real, tricking voters during elections, and destroying public trust in media, politicians, and fact-based news and discussion.
Privacy and copyright violations: AI models learn by reading huge amounts of personal data, artwork, and private text from the internet. Companies rarely ask for permission or pay the original creators, which violates people's privacy and steals artists' hard work.
Automated warfare: Military forces now use AI in weapons, such as self-flying attack drones. This raises serious moral questions because computer algorithms—rather than human beings with feelings, reason, and ethics—are making life-or-death decisions on the battlefield.
Loss of human control: Many scientists, political leaders, and members of the public are worried that advanced AI systems could start improving themselves without human intervention—a process known as "recursive self-improvement." Without strong safeguards, the accelerating development of AI technology may leave human beings unable to manage, stop, or guide these systems.
(1) Basic concepts: 人工知能（AI）とは？種類や仕組み、メリット・デメリットを解説
(2) Copyright & privacy: 歌手などの顔や声をAIで無断生成、権利の侵害を明確化…法務省が議論始める
(3) Environmental impact: UN News. (4 June 2026). AI’s environmental costs threaten water, land and climate. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167658
(4) Education & technology: NHK World Japan. (25 March 2026). AI push to reshape Japan's school classrooms. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/4680/
(5) Existential risk: France 24. (11 September 2026). Doomsday tech: could AI really kill us all?https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260911-doomsday-tech-could-ai-really-kill-us-all
(1) Environmental impact: BBC. (15 July 2025). How AI uses our drinking water. (6 minutes 36 seconds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0C56yqIkbk
(2) Global inequality: Al Jazeera. (12 June 2024). The AI Series: AI and the Global South. (25 minutes 17 seconds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbaVJFG_rA
(3) Future risks: CBS News. (9 October 2023). “Godfather of AI" Geoffrey Hinton: The 60 Minutes Interview. (13 minutes 11 seconds). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrvK_KuIeJk
What do you find interesting, surprising, or worrying about Artificial Intelligence issues?
What specific issue do you want to research further regarding Artificial Intelligence? Why?
What focus do you want to take in your inquiry:
Individual: Personal experiences and perspectives
Local: Situations and issues in a local community, town, or city
Organisational: Actions taken by local or regional organisations
Systemic: Law, policy, human rights, or international frameworks
Combined: A mixture of multiple angles
4. Write down your initial research questions and your next steps.