Joan García-Nieto, an activist priest who helped dignify poor neighborhoods, was one of the most influential figures in the history of Baix Llobregat. He used to repeat that “utopias can be fulfilled.” And somewhat utopian, the words of Manuela Carmena resonated this Friday in the city of Padre Juan in front of a more pessimistic and almost dystopian John Carlin, both gathered at the Cornellà Creació forum for a face to face with a suggestive title: Artificial intelligence (AI ) and the virus of political lies.
“I'm not hopeful. Social networks have made us stupid. And AI will prevent learning basic things like knowing a little algebra. We are going to be dumber and, therefore, weaker to the deceptions and deepfakes that will occur,” said the writer and columnist for La Vanguardia. “You're going to end the world!” he snapped at Pepper, a robot who helped introduce the event.
“Literacy rates are much higher than a century ago, we are no more stupid,” Carmena responded on the day of her 80th anniversary before receiving a bouquet of flowers. For the former mayor of Madrid, AI will put society against the mirror and, in contrast, will serve to value concepts such as “compassion and empathy” more.
Carlin and Carmena agreed to highlight the importance of the current moment and AI due to the changes it can produce politically, socially and economically. “Whenever there is an invention there is a reaction of fear. We are not educated in change. We need a democracy of the 21st century,” said Carmena, convinced that new technologies can facilitate citizen participation.
"Normal people, who vote, don't follow politics with interest", retorted Carlin in a pleasant talk held in the auditorium of Cornellà with the president of Pimec, Antoni Cañete, as master of ceremonies.
