Recent debates on artificial intelligence (AI) tend to fixate on high-level theoretical constructs such as artificial general intelligence (AGI) and superintelligence. Much of the attention is on looming threats like job displacement or the extinction of human creativity. However, we often overlook the more nuanced yet significant impact AI is having on the social fabric and our shared vision of the future, as highlighted by Mona Sloane, a sociologist and AI researcher.
In her forthcoming book, "Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life" (University of California Press, 2026), Sloane unravels this intricate relationship between AI and social dynamics. She asserts that AI is integral to our daily interactions with technology—from email filters to social media algorithms—creating a new form of "prediction logic" that develops assumptions about our identity and behaviors.
AI as Modern Oracles
Sloane draws a fascinating parallel between the AI systems prevalent today and the oracles of ancient Greece. In her view, today's technological "oracles" wield considerable influence over our lives by shaping social dynamics and decision-making processes. This predictive power seems so profound that it governs economic strategies and geopolitical landscapes. In Sloane's eyes, these AI systems act as omniscient entities that dominate our future paths.
Yet, unlike ancient oracles, which were often revered priestesses offering divine insights, current-day oracles are largely automated processes embedded within everyday technology. The influence of these AI predictions is pervasive, making it nearly impossible to escape their reach. Sloane notes that she engages with AI on a daily basis—whether filtering spam via email, banking with AI-driven fraud detection, or employing generative AI for mundane tasks. It's become a cornerstone of her everyday experience.
While AI can alleviate mundane challenges, it often requires users to oversee and adjust its outputs, leading to occasional frustrations when the tools fail to meet expectations. The subconscious acceptance of AI predictions as natural phenomena can obscure their constructed nature, thus inviting a critical examination of their origins and implications.
The Social Implications of Prediction
The concept of predictions is not merely a novel technological marvel; it's rooted in societal constructs and shared expectations. Rudolf Carnap, a logician from the mid-20th century, characterized quantitative concepts as social agreements that facilitate the communication of complex ideas. He believed that such predictions serve practical purposes, particularly in the context of scientific advancement.
However, AI has altered this paradigm. Today, predictions are no longer confined to scientific utility; instead, they become guiding principles for organizing social order. The emergence of what Sloane terms the "prediction paradigm" raises concerns about AI's perceived necessity, diverting attention from the underlying social forces that shape its development and deployment.
AI is more than a mere technological tool; it represents a collective societal effort that influences how we interact and function within various spheres of life. Like any infrastructure, AI directs resources and information in certain ways while obstructing others. By processing data from our past, it draws conclusions about our potential futures. This process reinforces a rigid view of causality, suggesting a linear progression from past to future, thereby constricting the exploration of alternative futures.
Rethinking Our Relationship with AI
As Sloane highlights, the most pressing issue isn't the ascent of super-smart machines but the societal implications of our unwavering adherence to a predictable future. The current emphasis on prediction fosters a culture that fetishizes foresight, leaving little space for discussions about alternative trajectories we might want to explore.
In "Predicted", Sloane offers a framework for understanding the profound transformations that arise from our engagement with prediction, classification, and societal structure. By revealing the salient social dimensions of AI, she compels us to reconsider how we relate to this technology—in particular, the notion that we co-produce these systems rather than being passive recipients of their influence.
Ultimately, the challenge lies in critically engaging with the predictions AI generates, recognizing both their utility and their limits in shaping our aspirations for the future. Instead of viewing these systems as destiny, we should acknowledge and confront the sociopolitical contexts that have given rise to them. Understanding AI as a societal construct rather than an omnipotent force can open pathways to envision more diverse and equitable futures.
Reprinted from Predicted: How AI Is Restructuring Social Life by Mona Sloane, courtesy of the University of California Press. Copyright 2026.
