Interview: Nina Schick

Nina Schick, author of DEEPFAKES: The Coming Infocalypse, is an expert in all things generative AI. Eleanor Dallaway asks her how cyber teams can use AI to transform their strategies, and picks her brain on the role generative AI will play in the future of business

As an advisor to global leaders, including President Joe Biden and former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nina Schick is the go-to voice in all things AI, and she does not think its impact can be overstated.

How does data and AI affect the political landscape?

When you consider the profound impact of AI on society, the AI revolution will become one of the most significant political questions of our generation. We have already seen how the information revolution of the past 30 years – the internet, smartphones, and cloud computing – has become a major geopolitical force shaping our world. Now, if you add the AI revolution on top of that, along with the data powering it, you have a seismic political issue that will be one of the most pressing concerns society needs to address in the next generation. So, when you ask about how it will impact politics, it will inevitably become a political issue.

What are the ethical risks of AI and big data for society?

The question of ethics, AI, and big data is one that will become intensely political and remain a predominant issue for a long time to come. Because you have this utterly transformative technology that I think will change the economy, the labour market, and, in fact, the framework of society. So, the question about how to apply this technology in a fair, safe, and ethical way will be a dominant political issue.

What advice would you give to businesses aiming to transform their cyber strategies?

For businesses looking to digitally transform their mindset, it is essential to understand the conceptual paradigm shift that is occurring now with artificial intelligence. And once you have the conceptual framework in place, you can quickly delve deeper. If you want to be competitive and have an advantage, this is the time to start looking at how generative AI can be applied in your business. There are several key considerations to take into account regarding your priority areas, long-term profits, and your overall long-term AI strategy, rather than just focusing on short-term gains. If you establish a generative AI working group to explore this, your business will be transformed and able to compete with other businesses that are leveraging AI to enhance their processes.

What role will Generative AI play in the future of business?

I think Generative AI is absolutely going to transform the economy. This is a moment similar to perhaps 1993, when we were being told to prepare for the internet, and 30 years ago, we didn’t understand how the internet would change business forever. Now, generative AI is like that, but an even bigger deal, because you can understand generative AI as a combustion engine for all human creative and intelligent activity. So, every industry and every aspect of productivity will be transformed by generative AI, and those use cases are emerging now.

As the first author on generative AI, what gave you the inspiration and foresight for the book?

The reason I was interested in AI is not because I am a techie. I do not have a technical background. My background has always been in identifying macro trends that shape society, geopolitics, and the world. This is why I began researching and writing about AI. Ultimately, this is not a story about technology. This is a story about humanity. The way that this exponential technology, which is built, amplified, and controlled by humans, is going to transform not only the way we work, but also the way we live. It is even going to change our very perception of what it means to be human.