{
  "id": 7353935,
  "title": "What is AI, how does it work and why are some people concerned about it?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/what-is-ai-how-does-it-work-and-why-are-some-people-concerned-about-it",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-14T16:09:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Technology",
    "slug": "bbc-technology",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2l799gxjjpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a ubiquitous part of modern life since the past decade. It manifests in various ways, ranging from personalizing social media feeds to identifying friends in smartphone photos, and spearheading medical breakthroughs. However, the advent of chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT has sparked concerns about the environmental impact of this technology, its ethical implications, and how data is utilized. Some experts have even warned that AI might become so powerful that it could pose a threat to humanity.\n\nAt its core, AI enables computers to process vast quantities of data, discern patterns, and execute precise instructions regarding how to utilize the obtained information. Essentially, it mimics human intelligence in the execution of tasks. This capability is evident in various applications, such as predicting which products an online shopper might be interested in based on their previous purchases, assisting voice-controlled virtual assistants like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa, and aiding the development of self-driving car systems.\n\nAI also plays a significant role in shaping the content that social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and X display to users, and in tailoring music recommendations for streaming services like Spotify and Deezer. Furthermore, it assists in medical applications, helping scientists identify cancers, review X-ray results, speed up diagnoses, and discover new treatments. Generative AI, a subset of AI, creates new content that may appear to have been created by humans. This is achieved through learning from extensive existing data, including online text and images. Popular generative AI tools include ChatGPT, DeepSeek's chatbot, Google's Gemini, Meta AI, and image or video generation apps like Midjourney or Veo 3.\n\nDespite acknowledging AI's potential benefits, some experts are apprehensive about its rapid development. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggested that AI could impact nearly 40% of jobs and exacerbate global financial inequality. Renowned computer scientist and one of the pioneers of AI development, Prof Geoffrey Hinton, has expressed concerns that powerful AI systems could make humans extinct. This fear was met with skepticism by his colleague, Yann LeCun.\n\nIn September 2026, similar apprehensions resurfaced as AI researchers warned about the potential threats AI could pose in the near future. The primary concerns revolve around AI's possible reproduction of biased information, discrimination against certain social groups, and the prevalence of errors in AI tools. Public data used to train many AI systems can reflect existing societal biases like sexism or racism, and AI tools, although becoming more adept, are still prone to making mistakes. Generative AI systems, in particular, are known for their tendency to \"hallucinate,\" asserting falsehoods as facts and even inventing sources for inaccurate information.\n\nInstances of AI misuse have been reported in various settings, including schools and workplaces, where students have used AI tools to cheat on assignments, and employees have smuggled AI into the workplace. Additionally, there are concerns about the ethical implications of AI in creative fields, with writers, musicians, and artists protesting against its use without consent or compensation. Notable figures like Abba's Björn Ulvaeus, writers Ian Rankin and Joanne Harris, and actress Julianne Moore have signed statements accusing AI developers of exploiting their work without proper credit or financial gain.\n\nThe energy consumption of AI systems is another cause for concern. Some researchers estimate that the entire AI industry could soon consume as much electricity as the Netherlands. The creation of powerful computer chips necessary to run AI programs demands significant amounts of power and water. As generative AI services grow in popularity, the number of data centers required to power them has increased, leading to an escalation in energy use and water consumption. Some large tech companies have made efforts to reduce water usage or opt for alternative cooling methods, but concerns remain that AI data centers could exacerbate water supply problems.\n\nSome governments have already introduced regulations governing AI operations, such as the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which places controls on high-risk systems used in areas like education, healthcare, law enforcement, or elections, and bans certain AI applications entirely. While China requires generative AI developers to safeguard citizens' data and promote transparency and accuracy, these regulations also come with the country's strict censorship laws. Many countries, including the UK, have sought to regulate AI through existing legal frameworks rather than introducing new legislation, fearing potential unintended consequences.",
  "summary": "AI is transforming modern life, but not without worry for some that it may be abused or have an adverse environmental impact.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}