How The AI Arms Race Traps Us All On An Upgrade Treadmill
Humanity is locked in an accelerating arms race, fueled by technology, with battlefields emerging in every corner of our lives. From Beijing community centers where seniors learn to spot deepfake video calls, to London charities running scam prevention courses, the pressure is on to keep up. Even professional translators in Shanghai and New York are scrambling to master new AI models to safeguard their jobs.
AI is rapidly redefining roles, faster than most can adapt. This isn’t accidental; it’s a key feature of the "disruption-as-a-service" business model. Big Tech now engineers a perpetual state of insecurity by creating relentless technological churn, rendering our skills and safety measures obsolete, only to then sell us the tools to catch up. This forces us onto an "upgrade treadmill," an ever-accelerating engine of necessity. With no escape in sight, the only option seems to be constant upskilling, hoping the next wave of disruption won't render our efforts futile.
In China, this upgrade treadmill is a daily reality, driven by rapid technological advancement, widespread social anxiety and a fiercely competitive tech landscape. The urgency to defend against rapid technological change is palpable.
AI-generated scams are a mainstream concern. Recent incidents, such as fraudsters using deepfake videos of celebrity diver Quan Hongchan to defraud tens of thousands, have heightened public awareness and anxiety. In one........
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