Final RP proposal

The problem I am engaging with is the debate over the societal impact of artificial intelligence, particularly the tension between its promises and the fears it generates. On one hand, AI is often hailed as a transformative technology that can solve complex problems, yet on the other, it fuels widespread anxieties about control, privacy, and job loss. My essay will explore how these hopes and fears are shaped by both factual developments in AI technology and more speculative, even conspiratorial, narratives. I am especially interested in how conspiracy theories—like those found on Reddit—reflect deeper societal concerns about AI’s influence on human agency and governance. This raises the broader question: how do public perceptions of AI, informed by both legitimate research and misinformation, impact the conversation around its regulation and integration into daily life?

In terms of sources, I will rely on a combination of Background, Theory, Example, Argument, and Method sources (the “B-TEAM” framework). As a background source, I’m using “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence,” which outlines AI’s evolution and highlights major milestones like the Turing Test and the Dartmouth conference. This will provide historical context and help ground the essay in factual developments. For theory, I will engage with scholarly debates on the ethics and future governance of AI. My example sources will include Reddit conspiracy theory posts; however, finding substantial and relevant ones has been a challenge. Despite that, I plan to incorporate at least one post to illustrate how misinformation spreads. For argument, I aim to contrast expert opinions with public fears, drawing insights from the “Brief History” paper and discussions about AI regulation. As a method, I will analyze both academic and informal sources (like Reddit), comparing their narratives to reveal how public discourse on AI is constructed. Additionally, the book review of The Oxford Indian Anthology of Bengali Literature may serve as a secondary example source, especially in showing how literature captures cultural anxieties, though its role is still developing in my research.