Forecasting Transitions in Digital Society: From Social Norms to AI Applications †

Abstract

The use of AI and digitalization in many areas of everyday life holds great potential but also introduces significant societal transitions. This paper takes a closer look at three exemplary areas of central social and psychological relevance that might serve as a basis for forecasting transitions in the digital society: (1) social norms in the context of digital systems; (2) surveillance and social scoring; and (3) artificial intelligence as a decision-making aid or decision-making authority. For each of these areas, we highlight current trends and developments and then present future scenarios that illustrate possible societal transitions, related questions to be answered, and how such predictions might inform responsible technology design.