Title
AI technology as hostile epistemology: A threat to democratic legitimacy
Abstract
C. Thi Nguyen developed the notion ‘Hostile Epistemology’ (2021, 2023) and defined it as “the study of how environmental features (such as people, communities, cultural practices, institutional structures and technologies) can exploit our cognitive vulnerabilities and weaknesses” (Nguyen 2023, 1). In this talk, I argue that political agents in liberal constitutional democracies should regard AI technology as an epistemically hostile environment. Not only does AI technology (generative and predictive AI) undermine clarity and trust, necessary conditions of a healthy epistemic, but it also enhances the seductiveness of belief systems. For example, AI- driven engagement optimisation algorithms, deepfakes, and automated bots, among other elements, amplify a hostile epistemic environment where emotionally charged content, false credentials, and manipulative narratives thrive. The implication of AI as a hostile epistemic network is that it intensifies the erosion of both institutional trust and civic trust, which undermines the democratic legitimacy of a constitutional democracy. I end the talk by discussing potential avenues for mitigation.
About Paige
Paige is a postdoctoral research fellow at the African center for epistemology and philosophy of science at the University of Johannesburg. Her research is situated between two subdisciplines; namely political philosophy and the Ethics of Artificial intelligence. She seeks to address the evolving challenges posed by digital technologies, particularly in the context of information dissemination through social media and its impact on the stability of democratic societies.