What Disney Princesses Teach Us About AI & Privacy
Fairytales Forewarned: Ariel's Stolen Voice, Aladdin's Identity Swap, Cinderella's Curfew, Belle's Surveillance, Pocahontas's Cultural Tension, and Rapunzel's Seclusion
Attention, ladies and gentlemen, mice, and pumpkins!
I have stumbled upon an extraordinary discovery that’s bound to shake your belief in reality (or at least your belief in fairy tales).
It turns out that our cherished Disney princesses were not merely brushing their hair with dinglehoppers and singing with forest creatures. No, they were busy doing something far more extraordinary—they were moonlighting as prophets of the AI revolution.
Yes, indeed, those ballgown-clad seers were slyly slipping us life lessons about the future of artificial intelligence amidst their melodious solos and magical adventures! So, grab your enchanted mirrors and talking carpets as we embark on a whimsical journey to see just how these heroines hinted at the digital age long before we could even spell "algorithm".
Let's start with "The Little Mermaid," since watching it sparked this "aha" moment for me.
In "The Little Mermaid," Ariel trades her voice to Ursula for the opportunity to be human. Could this not serve as a metaphor for how we often hand over our 'voices'—which, in this context, could be construed as our personal data—to artificial intelligence systems for the convenience and opportunities they offer?
In Ariel's case, she was so enamored by the human world and the chance to be a part of it, she was willing to give up a fundamental aspect of her identity! This mirrors our own willingness to trade privacy for the allure of cutting-edge technology.
Some of us put our art on social media to gain a few likes or followers, and now AI is trained on it. Some of us are consensually uploading our voices to generative AI text-to-speech tools like ElevenLabs so that the AI can use our voices (but slightly better versions of them) to narrate work videos.
Just as Ariel regretted her decision, we might, too. Or should we be brave and move our lives forward?
Next is my favorite Disney movie - “Aladdin”.
Taking a detour into the magical world of "Aladdin," we encounter the Genie, a being of nearly limitless power, who is nonetheless bound to serve the holder of his lamp.
The Genie is a tool with vast potential for good, but also, potentially, for less benevolent purposes. In the wrong hands, such as those of the villainous Jafar, the Genie's power becomes a weapon. In terms of privacy, this highlights how AI, when wielded by those with malicious intent, could be used to infringe upon our rights and destroy us all.
Even worse, AI can help us lie to people to feel more loved. Aladdin uses the Genie to transform himself and his life. This is strikingly similar to how we may use AI, like ChatGPT, to enhance our lives, gain new skills, or even project a polished version of ourselves. Aladdin, once a 'diamond in the rough,' uses the Genie to morph into the ostentatious Prince Ali. Is this any different than how we might use AI to augment our capabilities or present an idealized version of ourselves online???
In Aladdin’s transformation, Aladdin risks losing his individuality and authenticity. Thankfully, Jasmine is smart and sees right through it and is very forgiving. Aladdin’s story thus serves as a cautionary tale about maintaining our true selves in the face of powerful tools that can shape our identity. It underscores the need to strike a balance between AI as a means of self-improvement and the preservation of our unique human essence.
Onward to another classic Disney princess, Cinderella.
The magic that allowed Cinderella to attend the ball and capture the prince's heart was ephemeral; it disappeared at midnight, leaving no trace.
This midnight expiration of Cinderella's enchantment could also symbolize the susceptibility of technology to failure or shutdown. As much as we come to rely on the 'magic' of AI in our day-to-day lives, it's important to remember that this magic isn't infallible.
Servers can go down, systems can fail, and even AI can falter (😱).
Much like Cinderella returning to her rags at the stroke of midnight, we could find ourselves facing the stark reality of a world temporarily devoid of the benefits of AI, emphasizing the importance of not becoming overly reliant on technology and always having a backup plan in place.
Then, we can't overlook "Beauty and the Beast”.
Belle is essentially under constant observation by the enchanted inhabitants of the castle, from talking clocks to singing candelabras. Is this not an eerie premonition of our smart devices today, listening and learning from our daily lives, yet promising to make them better?
At first, Belle is terrified of the Beast and the castle's anthropomorphic objects. But over time, she learns to understand them and see the value they bring. This mirrors our own journey with AI, which may initially seem complex and intimidating, but with time and understanding, we can harness its value. (Honestly, the robots can cook and clean for me. All I want is to be left alone in a library, anyway! Shoot, I forgot what the warning here even is. The robots have gotten to me!)
Anyway, let's also consider "Pocahontas" and its theme, which is very dear to my heart: understanding different cultures and respecting their values.
In the world of AI, this translates to the concept of data sovereignty and cultural sensitivity. AI systems are often trained on data from a limited cultural perspective, leading to biases in their functioning.
(For just a second, imagine that AI is only created by Governor Ratcliffes and trained with data from John Smiths.. We need Pocahontases!)
Thus, "Pocahontas" underscores the importance of diverse representation everywhere, including in data. AI needs to respect and understand the cultural values embedded in the data it processes.
Finally, let's end on "Rapunzel" from "Tangled," who lives secluded in a tower, hidden from the world.
Her seclusion could be seen as the ultimate privacy, yet it comes at the expense of her freedom and her ability to experience life.
This can serve as a metaphor for the privacy versus personalization debate in AI. While we might want to keep our data private, we also enjoy the personalization and benefits that sharing our data can bring.
Each of these stories reveals surprisingly prescient lessons about our relationship with AI and privacy. Whether it's the surrendered voice of Ariel, the disappearing magic of Cinderella, the ever-watchful eyes of Belle's castle, the genie’s power in "Aladdin," the relentless surveillance of the Magic Mirror, or the cultural sensitivity in "Pocahontas," we're repeatedly reminded of the complexities, risks, and responsibilities that come with the advancement of AI technology.
So, there you have it, dear readers! Our beloved Disney princesses, in all their sparkly, singing glory, have been playing the long game.
Under the guise of charming fairy tales, they've been slyly nudging us to be vigilant about our personal data, to value our individuality amidst AI's standardizing tendencies, and, yes, to occasionally hit the off-switch on our gadgets. Now, whether Walt Disney had a secret time machine or a crystal ball, we may never know (jk, he had a Fairy Godmother).
What we do know is that these princess tales remind us that amidst the AI revolution, a good dose of humanity (and humor) goes a long way.
In the end, we are all navigating this spellbound kingdom of AI, one enchanted castle at a time. Let's hope that our future includes less destruction and data theft, and more true love and singing animals!
Hope I Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Blown your mind!
Frankly, I've plum run out of Disney princesses to reinterpret.
So, if you're sitting there smugly thinking of a character I've missed, or a brilliant AI-life lesson from another Disney movie, don't keep it to yourself!
You know where the comment section is ⬇️ (or hit reply if you’re reading on email)!
Share away, and let's keep the magic going.