Editorial

Abstract

The subject of artificial intelligence (AI) dominates all debates and the use of AI permeates all areas, from IT to horticulture. AI is discussed both as a saviour and as a high-risk technology: sometimes AI is supposed to solve all problems, right up to the climate catastrophe, which is even exacerbated by energy consumption through AI; sometimes apocalyptic scenarios from science fiction are feared, in which machines could dominate us. In this controversial situation, PROKLA explores the extent to which the technological promises and threat scenarios associated with »artificial intelligence«, which have been reignited by the publication of ChatGPT, actually represent a tangible paradigm shift or whether the myth is already cooling. What is the background to artificial intelligence, what are its real effects and what are its potential developments?