'Should we be scared about artificial intelligence?' Is a question that has become more than relevant every day in these past years. With a constantly evolving industry such as AI, this question carries a lot of burdens. 

We can be quick to assume the many negatives there are to artificial intelligence. Some of the most influential minds such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking suggest the potential dangers to the future if we are not more cautious with what we are developing. The applications of AI are what influence the risk and protect us from hazards. Even though super-intelligent machines have not yet been introduced, in the current form we are using AI it is already a very powerful and dangerous thing. 

AI is programmed and is an automated device, meaning it has no dependence on anyone. This device could be misused or programmed in a way to do things that are dangerous and pose threats to other people. 

Autonomous weapons: 

In the case of autonomous weapons, the device is programmed to kill. Not only can this be used for someone's personal reasons but it is expected that the arms race will soon be replaced with a global autonomous weapons race, introducing a whole new level of danger to the world. One of the problems which could arise from using autonomous weapons is that once they have been established, it will be difficult to take them apart. 

Social Manipulation: 

Social media already uses autonomous- powered algorithms to function. They have a very precise target marketing on an individual using the app to keep them hooked and carry on using it. The biggest example of social manipulation is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The firm was using data from 50 million Facebook users to try and sway the 2016 U.S. presidential elections as well as the Brexit referendum. They spread propaganda through the individuals targeted by pushing the information which they thought would be most effective on that person. 

Invasion of privacy and social grading: 

An individual's life can be tracked very easily. Information like your every move to your daily routine can be tracked and analysed through the camera's which are nearly everywhere and by using facial recognition software. For example, in China, a social credit system has already been instated to give every citizen a personal score which they can improve or worsen depending on their behaviour. Information from jaywalking to throwing litter on the floor would have an impact on your credit.