Nobel laureate Maria Ressa warns of AI's threat to human autonomy

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa has warned that artificial intelligence could ultimately strip humans of their autonomy if not regulated through legislation. Ressa, who co-chairs the UN's International Science Panel on Artificial Intelligence, highlighted AI's potential to interfere with human decision-making.

Ressa, recognized for her work exposing the power of tech giants, outlines three waves of AI's impact. The first wave, social media, has already captured attention and polarized societies. The second wave, involving tools like chatbots, exploits human needs for connection and can impact psychological well-being. The third, she explains, directly challenges autonomy through AI systems capable of independent action and coordinated intelligence, moving beyond mere imitation to acting on behalf of humans.

Addressing concerns that AI regulation might put the United States at a disadvantage against China, Ressa dismissed this as a "clever excuse." She noted that China implements more safeguards for its citizens in platforms like TikTok compared to global products from Silicon Valley.

Ressa advocates for public engagement in calling for AI regulation, framing it as a public safety issue rather than solely a free speech matter. She also presented Rappler Communities, a mobile app built on decentralized technology, as a model for public-interest communication platforms that foster genuine dialogue and support democratic processes.