ow artificial intelligence systems are blocking free expression and exchange of ideas across key learning dimensions in Pakistan is evident from the following conversation between a student and myself (his professor):

“Sir, can I write on the plight of minorities in Pakistan?”

“No, pick another less controversial topic.”

“Sir, can I write on the divisive role religion has played in the country?”

“No, are you in your senses? This could land you in serious trouble some years from now. Once your ideas become part of the global Net, you could expect all kinds of demons coming after you. And God knows for how long? Your chances of getting a government job could be seriously compromised.

“Sir, please allow me to write on blasphemy laws. Can I?”

“You are getting into a serious terrain. Don’t you know it’s a taboo subject in our land. The plain answer is a big no!”

“Sir, then you tell me what can I write using critical thinking?

The above conversation suggests that by placing constraints in the way of young enquiring minds, I was actually guilty of snuffing out free expression before it was actually born. Nothing could be more awful than placing restrictions around the thinking of young people. Before the dawn of internet, and subsequent birth of AI, what a student chose to write about was a matter between him and his instructor. No longer.

AI and its systems are barrelling down the campus life. There are actually two waves: one positive and the other negative. So far, we are ecstatic about the huge prospects for growth and God-knows-what academic windfall in the short term. Writing in The New Yorker recently Prof D Graham Burnett says: “AI is coming at us with shocking speed. Staggering transformations are in full swing. Now I can hold a sustained, tailored conversation on any topic I care about, from agnotology to zoosemiotics, with a system that effectively has achieved PhD level competence across all of these topics. I can construct the book I want in real time.” It is all becoming a matter of having well-designed prompts. The professor’s main argument is the following: it is a matter of time before we could effectively see the demise of humanities across major campuses in the world.

That said, our major concern is about the hugely negative impact of AI and its systems across societies that are relatively less democratic, and where governance reeks of repression. Scholars focused on the negative repercussions of AI for societies like ours argue that in the digital age, the right to freedom of expression has been mortally squeezed. The deployment of artificial intelligence represents a powerful instrument for the production of and control over online speech. Imagine the nightmare for those who practise free expression online and respond and react to issues impacting the citizens’ lives.

Indeed, the power and impact digital systems wield these days, particularly on freedom of expression and free speech is unprecedented. The impact is relentless and potent as it springs ominously from the collection of personal data for the dreaded purposes of profiling, microtargeting and customisation. The defining business model, which is a reflection of the surveillance capitalism, presents certainly a stiff challenge to the free expression of one’s thought and opinions. Consider the background where personal information is being collected, and our words and opinions may be easily tracked back to us. Please recall this writer’s admonion to a student a while ago.

AI in the hands of repressive regimes is feared to become a sledgehammer. Indeed, this is happening sooner than we could ever imagine. Artificial intelligence systems’ potential for buttressing dictators and despots is now recognised by human rights entities. One unsettling perspective is that AI is responsible for reigniting authoritarianism across the world. What is referred to as high-tech repression is bound to manifest itself in Pakistan too. Some scholars believe it to be already here, upending the relationship between the citizens and the state. In a nutshell, the potential for abuse is huge. It is believed that journalists in Pakistan are not really trained to understand the implications for freedom of expression. Are academics any better? It is reasonable to conclude that both segments will need to rise to the challenge of AI before more ground is lost to it, meaning to those who have the knowledge to manipulate the new science to their advantage, especially to benefit their powerful masters.

So, back to the classroom dialogue about the use of critical thinking and freedom to write on any subject under the sun. Disagreement and no-holds-barred discussions are the hallmarks of civilisation. True, of course. However, can we ignore the elephant in the room? How long will it be before we can go back to the old days when spirited discussions were an essential part of academic life. Sadly, the spectre of AI lurking in the room is too daunting.

The writer teaches media writing and communication at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. He is a former editor of The Frontier Post