Source: El País in English

El País in English presents a critical perspective on the current state of artificial intelligence development and deployment, framing it as a massive, uncontrolled global experiment. The author, Enrique Dans, argues that major technology companies have released powerful generative AI models and other AI-driven products into the public sphere without adequate testing or a full understanding of their long-term societal consequences. This approach, which he dubs "global beta mode," treats the entire world population as unwitting test subjects. The article draws a sharp contrast between the rigorous testing protocols required for other transformative technologies, such as pharmaceuticals or aviation, and the comparatively lax standards applied to AI. This "move fast and break things" philosophy, once a Silicon Valley mantra, is now being applied to technologies that have the potential to fundamentally reshape communication, employment, and social structures.

The piece delves into the specific risks associated with this global beta test. These include the proliferation of misinformation and deepfakes, the potential for algorithmic bias to perpetuate and amplify societal inequalities, and the unpredictable emergent behaviors of complex AI systems. The author contends that by prioritizing speed to market over safety and ethical considerations, corporations are externalizing the risks of their products onto society as a whole. The article is not a call to halt AI development but rather a plea for a more responsible and regulated approach. It suggests the need for greater transparency, independent auditing of AI models, and a more robust public discourse about the kind of AI-integrated future we want to build. The central thesis is a warning against the uncritical acceptance of new technologies, urging society to reclaim agency in an experiment that it never explicitly consented to join.