Why companies are thinking twice about using artificial intelligence

Our mission to make business better is fueled by readers like you. To enjoy unlimited access to our journalism, subscribe today. Alex Spinelli, chief technologist for business software maker LivePerson, says the recent U.S. Capitol riot shows the potential dangers of a technology not usually associated with pro-Trump mobs: artificial intelligence. The same machine-learning tech that helps companies target people with online ads on Facebook and Twitter also helps bad actors distribute propaganda and misinformation. In 2016, for instance, people shared fake news articles on Facebook, whose A.I. systems then funneled them to users.