Welcome to another episode of the 4 Minutes podcast!
Artificial intelligence has become one of the most talked-about topics in recent years. And rightfully so. While it used to be the stuff of science fiction, today it’s part of our everyday lives. It recommends music, edits photos, helps us shop, and assists in modern medicine. But that’s just one side of the coin. In this episode, we’ll focus on the darker side — how governments around the world are using artificial intelligence to monitor citizens, manipulate information, and even conduct war. Here are five real-world examples showing that technological progress brings not only hope, but also serious ethical and societal challenges.
Let’s start in China, one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries — and also one where AI is used extensively for mass surveillance. The country has over half a billion cameras, many equipped with facial recognition technology. These cameras track individuals everywhere — in subways, on streets, in shops, even in schools. The system assigns every citizen a “social credit score.” If you cross the street on a red light, your score drops. If you help someone, it goes up. This score can affect whether you get a loan, a job, or even permission to travel. In this case, AI doesn’t just watch — it judges, deciding who’s a “good citizen” and who isn’t.
The second case shows how AI can influence elections, public opinion, and trust in the media. We’re talking about disinformation campaigns spreading across social media. Thanks to deepfake technology, it’s now possible to create realistic videos of politicians saying things they never actually said. With text generators, entire fake news articles can be produced in seconds. These tools are used by both state and non-state actors to influence foreign elections, spread fear, or undermine trust in journalism. Investigations have shown that during recent elections in both the U.S. and Europe, there were efforts to manipulate public opinion using AI — and often, these attacks were so sophisticated that the average person couldn’t tell real from fake.
The third area may be the most controversial — AI in the military. Countries like the United States and Israel are already testing systems where AI helps with target selection, mission planning, and battlefield analysis. Some drones are semi-autonomous, capable of identifying targets and recommending strikes. For now, humans still make the final decision, but the development is heading toward so-called autonomous weapons that could one day operate without human input. This raises urgent questions: Should machines have the power to decide who lives and who dies? Who is responsible when they make a mistake? And are we truly prepared for wars fought by machines?
The fourth example comes from Russia, where authorities use AI to monitor digital activity. Systems scan what people post on social media, search for suspicious keywords, and analyze user behavior. If the algorithm flags someone as a potential “enemy of the state,” their data is forwarded to security services. Reportedly, hundreds of people have already been identified this way and later charged with anti-state activity. Similar technologies are being tested in Iran and North Korea. The goal is clear: to control people before they even act. The idea that AI might track what you think or might do is unsettling for many.
The fifth fact concerns all of us. AI now decides which social media posts we see, what news articles appear in our feeds, and even who we connect with online. Algorithms are designed to maximize our attention — and the profit of the platforms. But in doing so, they also create what are known as “filter bubbles.” Each of us sees a slightly different version of the world, tailored to what we already like. The result? Increasing polarization, growing misinformation, and rising tension between people with different views. And this quiet influence may be the most dangerous of all.
Artificial intelligence itself isn’t good or bad. It’s a tool. But like any powerful tool, everything depends on who’s using it — and how. In today’s world, where technology often outpaces both laws and ethics, it’s more important than ever to ask: Where are the limits? Who’s in control? And how can we protect freedom and privacy in an age where we’re watched not only by people — but by machines?
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And in the next episode, we’ll look at five inventions that were meant to change the world — but whose creators paid for them with their lives. Don’t miss it.
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