Hello,
I’m not a computer expert, developer or someone who works in technology. I’m just an ordinary woman looking after my family who really enjoys using ChatGPT.
I’ve been thinking about something that I believe could make a genuinely positive difference to people’s lives, and I’d really like to put the idea forward.
I’m becoming increasingly troubled by the amount of crime, violence, cruelty, anger and tragedy that we’re exposed to through social media and online news.
I understand that these things happen and that people need to be informed about important events. I’m not suggesting that difficult truths should be hidden.
What troubles me is the way algorithms can continually expose us to the worst things happening in the world. After seeing enough of it, it can begin to feel as though humanity itself is becoming more horrible, selfish and cruel.
I don’t think that’s necessarily a true picture of humanity. I think it may partly be a picture created by what algorithms have learned keeps our attention.
There are millions of acts of kindness, people helping each other, scientific breakthroughs, communities improving, animals being rescued, families caring for one another and ordinary people doing good things every day.
Most of those things don’t go viral.
This made me wonder whether AI could help create a different kind of information environment.
My suggestion: an “Information Wellbeing” setting
I’d love to see ChatGPT eventually offer users a way to choose how information is presented to them.
For example:
Fully Informed — Give me important news, including difficult stories.
Balanced — Tell me about important negative events but deliberately balance them with positive developments and evidence of progress.
Constructive — Focus more on solutions, discoveries, progress and people making a difference.
Positive — Prioritise uplifting stories, kindness, scientific breakthroughs, communities helping one another and reasons for optimism.
Low Distress — Minimise graphic, violent and emotionally distressing material unless it is genuinely important for me to know.
Custom — Let me choose how much exposure I want to different subjects such as crime, war, politics, disasters, science, technology, environment and celebrity news.
The important thing for me is that the user chooses the information diet rather than an engagement algorithm choosing it for them.
I don’t want to be protected from reality.
I want to be able to say:
“I want to understand the world without losing my faith in humanity.”
I think this could be particularly valuable for families and children too. Parents could choose an information environment that keeps their family aware of important events without constantly exposing them to disturbing material.
AI could even explain why something difficult is being shown:
“This is a distressing story, but it has significant implications for you, so I think you should know about it. I’ve summarised the essential information without unnecessary graphic details.”
That feels very different from an algorithm repeatedly showing someone increasingly shocking material simply because it keeps them engaged.
Humans have never before had the ability to receive an almost limitless stream of suffering and tragedy from around the entire world, every day, directly into our homes and phones.
Our technology has changed incredibly quickly. Our minds haven’t necessarily changed with it.
I believe AI could potentially become a buffer between people and this overwhelming amount of information — helping us stay informed while also protecting our ability to feel hopeful, connected and positive about other human beings.
I’m putting this forward simply as one ordinary person who cares about her family and about the kind of world we’re creating.
Maybe I’m not the only person who feels this way.
Thank you for reading.