Artificial intelligence: our tips for using it safely

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines or computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. These include things like learning, problem solving, pattern recognition and decision making.

In real life, we have only encountered AIs in hidden ways so far. Here are some examples from everyday life:

• Modern navigation systems such as Google Maps or the DB Navigator use AI to determine the best route to your desired destination, avoiding traffic disruptions such as traffic jams, construction sites or accidents.
• Thanks to AI, language assistants such as Siri or Alexa can communicate with us and carry out our commands.
• AI is used to analyze your online behavior and, based on this, new digital offers are displayed that match your tastes, such as recipe suggestions, music and video streaming, and shopping products.
• AI-supported facial recognition systems are used in various areas, for example to unlock smartphones, identify people on surveillance cameras, and for automated passport control at airports.
• AI algorithms can help to identify unwanted e-mails (spam) and filter them accordingly.
• With the help of AI, translation programs can deliver ever more precise translations that also take idioms and culture-specific phrases into account. 

The scenario of a “super-intelligence” controlling humans, which many associate with AI, is rather unlikely. However, there are real risks associated with the increasing use of artificial intelligence.

Data protection

When using AI, personal data is collected and processed: registration data, addresses, means of payment, movement patterns, etc. Where data is stored, there is always a risk that it may fall into the wrong hands.

Our tip: To be on the safe side, data and information security must be guaranteed in the interconnected home. Find out how to improve this here.

Error rate and dependency

The more we depend on AI, the greater the risk that something will go wrong. A fault in autonomous driving, for example, would be particularly drastic. Here, it must be ensured in advance that the various systems involved work properly.

Our tip: Don't rely 100% on AI systems; use your common sense. Question the approach of artificial intelligence and consider whether it might be making a mistake. It may be useful to use a different program for comparison.

Crime

AI is also widely used by criminals. With their help, phishing e-mails or shock calls with realistically imitated voices of relatives can be created, which make it very hard to discern that they are fake.

Our tips: Never pass on passwords or access data by e-mail or on the phone, delete e-mails from unknown senders immediately and do not click any links. If you are unsure or have doubts, it is always worth getting a second opinion from a trusted person.

Manipulation

So-called fake news can also arise from criminal intentions if publicly accessible data sources are manipulated and the AI then wrongly draws from them. This is about a deliberate intention to deceive, to mislead people and manipulate their opinion-forming. Photos and videos can also be altered, credibly using AI in a way that means it is often no longer possible to distinguish between reality and forgery (so-called deepfakes). This is particularly critical in political debates, e.g. in election campaigns, and therefore poses a major risk to democracy!

Our tip: Only trust information from credible sources.

Children and young people

Children and young people are particularly at risk from AI-generated content on the internet, especially when using smartphones and social media services. Criminals often exploit the naivety of young people to spread hate speech and bullying, but also extremist propaganda and disinformation on a particular topic. Contacting strangers is also a major risk. With the help of artificial intelligence, the voices of friends and relatives can be imitated to sound deceptively real. This enables criminals to build trust, tap into sensitive information and misuse it.

Our tip: Talk to your children about the dangers on the internet and show an interest in your child's activities.

The European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Regulation) has been in force since August 1, 2024. It is designed to strike a balance between benefits and risks and contain the aforementioned risks. AI systems that consumers come into contact with must be labeled and providers must explain the purpose for which they are used and what the use of the technology is intended to achieve. In addition, AI-generated content must be recognizable as such so that consumers can distinguish between human-made and artificial content. For AI systems that are particularly risky for consumers (including, for example, systems in healthcare or online banking), further strict quality and procedural requirements apply.

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