Badly implemented AI could 'jeopardize democracy,' says French president Emmanuel Macron

France has announced a new national AI strategy, including government funding worth nearly €1.5 billion ($1.85 billion). But the country's president, Emmanuel Macron, is worried about the damage this technology could do if not properly guided. In an interview with Wired, he said there was even a risk AI could "jeopardize democracy." Macron is worried about unaccountable "black box" algorithms being introduced into society and making decisions formerly entrusted to humans. He gave the example of an algorithm used to sort students into universities and said that if its workings were not easy to understand, it could destroy trust and encourage people to "reject" innovation.