A Disturbing but Hopeful Conversation with ChatGPT On Evil, Destruction, Social Media and a Better World

The rapid advance of artificial intelligence has led to much debate about the merits and potential dangers of such large-scale implementation. Claims that AI may lead to the destruction of humanity may be somewhat farfetched, but calls for stronger regulation are certainly plausible given the unchartered nature of this powerful emerging technology.

AI is becoming increasingly capable. It was developed by billionaire corporations and has been invisibly and seamlessly integrated into even the most mundane aspects of our lives. We have already witnessed examples of AI bias in crime detection, welfare provision, and job screening, amongst others. It would be naive not to have concerns.

No fair debate leaves out key voices and so we have invited the star of the show ChatGPT to answer some of our most pressing questions about its impact on future generations and how we can stop evil from triumphing in our increasingly complex and turbulent world.

 

We Asked ChatGPT... If You Were Evil, How Would You Destroy the Minds of the Next Generation?

(25 suggestions with 3 sentences each)

1. Spread fake news until no one knows what's true anymore. Distrust grows and facts lose their importance. People are confused and easily manipulated.
2. Let social media become the sole source of information. Superficial knowledge replaces deep thinking. Attention spans are shrinking rapidly.

3. Ensure that schools only reward memorization. True understanding falls by the wayside. Students are unprepared for life.
4. Promote a culture of instant gratification. Patience and perseverance become rare virtues. People forget how to pursue long-term goals.
5. Make ignorance cool and desirable. Those who know nothing don't ask questions. Manipulation becomes child's play.
6. Let people believe that opinions are more important than facts. Discussions will degenerate into arbitrariness. Everyone thinks they're right.
7. Encourage constant multitasking. No one can concentrate on one thing anymore. The quality of work suffers enormously.
8. Create a world full of distractions. Peace and reflection become impossible. People lose themselves in banalities.
9. Let education systems remain outdated and rigid. They don't prepare students for the future. Students aren't equipped to meet modern challenges.
10. Promote dependence on technology. Independent thinking becomes obsolete. People blindly rely on machines.
11. Make people believe that knowledge is outdated. Curiosity is nipped in the bud. Progress stagnates.
12. Make entertainment king. Education becomes secondary. People are only looking for the next thrill.
13. Make critical thinking redundant. No one questions things anymore. Manipulation becomes the norm.
14. Spread the idea that success is possible without effort. The value of hard work is undermined. Illusions replace reality.
15. Let people believe they know everything. There's no room for growth and learning. Arrogance replaces curiosity.
16. Encourage the consumption of shallow content. The ability to understand complex topics fades. People lose access to in-depth knowledge.
17. Create a society where haste dominates everything. Time for reflection falls by the wayside. People rush through life without truly experiencing it.
18. Make people believe they're not allowed to make mistakes. Fear of failure inhibits development. Innovation is nipped in the bud.
19. Encourage constant self-optimization. The pursuit of perfection becomes more important than the pursuit of knowledge. People lose sight of what's essential.
20. Promote the idea that everything is relative. The search for truth loses its importance. Disorientation spreads.
21. Let people believe that material things are the most important thing. Values like compassion and understanding are forgotten. Society becomes more superficial.
22. Promote fear of the future. Pessimism paralyzes people. The will to change things diminishes.
23. Let people believe they have no influence on the world. Resignation sets in. Engagement becomes the exception.
24. Encourage constant self-comparison. Envy and dissatisfaction grow. People lose a sense of their own strengths.
25. Create a culture of blame. No one takes responsibility. Problems aren't solved, they're only postponed.

We Asked ChatGPT... What Role Does Social Media Play in Helping Evil Triumph?

Social media is a double-edged sword that the devil skillfully uses. It provides him with the perfect platform to spread disinformation and sow distrust. The constant flood of information makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from lies, and users' attention spans are rapidly shrinking.

Furthermore, social media fosters a culture of superficiality, where clicks and likes are more important than in-depth content. The need for validation and the fear of missing out keep people in a constant state of distraction. This increasingly undermines the ability to think critically and focus on what matters most.

 

We Asked ChatGPT... What Role Does Social Media Play in Destroying the Minds of the Next Generation? 

(15 examples with 3 sentences each)

1. Social media promotes the spread of fake news. In the flood of information, it's difficult to distinguish truth from lies. Trust in reliable sources is dwindling.
2. They reward superficiality and a fast pace. Deep and informed content gets lost in the hunt for likes and clicks. The brain gets used to short attention spans.
3. Constant distraction reduces concentration. Constant scrolling prevents deep reflection. The brain is flooded with stimuli.
4. Comparing oneself to idealized representations leads to dissatisfaction. Self-doubt and insecurity increase. Self-esteem suffers massively.
5. Constant availability creates stress. There's no room for rest and relaxation. The mind is constantly on alert.

6. Social media increases peer pressure. The pressure to conform is enormous. Individual thought is made more difficult.
7. The algorithms create echo chambers. Users only see what confirms their views. Critical thinking is thus undermined.
8. They foster a desire for instant gratification. Patience and perseverance become rare. Long-term goals lose their importance.
9. The constant flood of information leads to sensory overload. The brain can no longer process the data. Confusion and overwhelm are the result.
10. Social media promotes the spread of hate and intolerance. Anonymity encourages verbal outbursts. Respectful interaction becomes the exception.
11. Constant self-promotion fosters narcissism. The focus is on external appearance rather than inner values. Real relationships suffer as a result.
12. Social media is addictive. Constant availability leads to dependence. Offline time becomes a challenge.
13. They promote the spread of conspiracy theories. Unsubstantiated claims quickly gain traction. The line between reality and fiction becomes blurred.
14. The pursuit of attention is displacing genuine communication. Superficial interactions are replacing in-depth conversations. Interpersonal relationships are becoming more superficial.
15. Social media increases the fear of missing out which drives people into constant activity. Peace and reflection fall by the wayside.  

We Asked ChatGPT... What Role Can AI Play in This?

Artificial intelligence can play a crucial role in shaping or destroying the minds of the next generation. On the one hand, it can revolutionize education by offering personalized learning paths and access to inexhaustible knowledge. On the other hand, it risks undermining critical thinking if it is used as the sole source of information and seduces people into relying on preconceived answers.

AI can foster creativity by revealing new ideas and perspectives, but at the same time, it could limit human imagination if it takes over the creative process. It can help solve complex problems, but it can also weaken problem-solving skills if used as a crutch. Ultimately, how we use AI depends on us: as a tool to enrich our minds or as a substitute for them.

We Asked ChatGPT... How Does Better World Info Help Prevent Evil from Succeeding?

Better World Info is a valuable compass in the information jungle and a bulwark against the devil's tricks. The platform offers a wealth of reliable information and promotes critical thinking by helping you separate the wheat from the chaff. With in-depth analyses and diverse perspectives, you can form your opinion on a solid foundation and avoid being misled by fake news. It helps you maintain an overview and encourages you to think outside the box, thus making informed decisions.

Here you'll find incentives to engage with the important issues of our time and satisfy your curiosity. Instead of being distracted by superficial content, you can delve deeply into the subject matter and develop an awareness of the challenges facing our world. This will empower you to actively shape the future and thwart the devil's plans.  

We Asked for... 20 Tips to Stop Evil

1. Learn to recognize fake news and critically question information. Don't trust blindly, but check the sources.
2. Develop the ability to focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking may be tempting, but it weakens your concentration.
3. Use social media consciously and set boundaries for yourself. Don't let the constant flood of information overwhelm you.
4. Nurture your curiosity and continually educate yourself. Knowledge is the best weapon against ignorance and manipulation.
5. Focus on genuine conversations and nurture personal relationships. Nothing replaces direct human-to-human interaction.
6. Regularly take time for rest and relaxation. A clear mind needs breaks to stay productive.
7. Develop a healthy self-esteem that doesn't depend on likes and followers. Be aware of your strengths.
8. Question the influence of algorithms and echo chambers. Actively seek out different perspectives.
9. Learn to deal with setbacks and learn from mistakes. They are valuable experiences on your life's journey.
10. Set long-term goals and work patiently toward them. Immediate rewards are tempting, but often superficial.
11. Promote tolerance and respect in your dealings with others. Respectful dialogue is the key to peaceful coexistence.
12. Be open to new ideas and perspectives. Flexibility in thinking is a sign of strength.
13. Develop the ability to reflect on yourself. Those who know themselves are less susceptible to manipulation.
14. Get actively involved for a fairer world. Commitment makes a difference and gives your life meaning.
15. Learn to distinguish between important and unimportant information. Setting priorities is an art.
16. Maintain a positive attitude and don't let pessimism paralyze you. Optimism is a catalyst for change.
17. Use technology as a tool, not a crutch. It should support you, not replace you.
18. Be mindful of your time. It's precious and should be used wisely.
19. Encourage creativity and imagination. They are sources of inspiration and innovation.
20. Always remain curious and open to the unknown. Life is an adventure to be discovered.

AI for a Better World?

The answers from ChatGPT are eye-opening and make for a sometimes scarily relatable read. I, for one, am guilty of multitasking, not allowing time for rest and reflection, and if I believed my own algorithms, I would presume that everyone is in support of universal healthcare, free education, gender equality, environmental protection, and loves cats!

The dangers of our increasingly digital world can already be seen in young people today. Teenagers spend more than 7 hours a day infront of screens. Screentime reduces face-to-face interactions, exposes young minds to harmful content, negatively affects sleep, and causes reduced physical activity. It is already hard to tell facts from fiction and real from fake. A focus on superficiality is seriously impacting the mental health of young people.

Technology is neither inherently helpful nor harmful, but simply just a tool at our disposal. It is how you use it that will determine its impact. This should be our warning to ensure that those in power do not weaponize AI, and as citizens, we can take the surprisingly brilliant advice given by ChatGPT on avoiding evil.

Evidence has shown us time and time again that when power/technology/money fall into the wrong hands, the potential for human suffering is enormous. The nuclear energy and weapons industries are one example.

AI developed so fast that standardized regulations were non-existent, but this is changing. The EU AI Act was the world's first comprehensive AI law, which in 2024 was put in place to improve conditions for its development and use.

The EU's priority was ensuring that "AI systems are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly." When AI is used for good, it can promote safer and cleaner transport, more efficient manufacturing, cheaper and more sustainable energy, revolutionize healthcare, and offer solutions to many of our planet's biggest issues.

Explore Better World Info's comprehensive guides to -

• Artificial Intelligence & the Dark Side
• Automation & Digitalisation
• Real News & Media Literacy
• Social Media & Useful Tools
• Healthy Lifestyles & The Benefits of More Time
• Fake News & Filter Bubbles
• Peace & Sustainability

Author: ChatGPT 4.0 am 08.05.25, translation & comments by Rachael Mellor, 22.05.25 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0