Divided by Design: Hate, Radicalization & Extremism in the Age of AI
Updated: 6 days ago
CONTENT ADVISORY: This episode discusses hate, extremism, radicalization, suicide and school shootings, in the context of AI's role in amplifying harmful behaviour. Listener discretion is advised.
What if the greatest danger of artificial intelligence isn’t that it will turn against humanity, but that it will turn humanity against itself?
As political polarization deepens and extremist ideologies find new audiences online, artificial intelligence is introducing a troubling new possibility: hatred that can be personalized, reinforced, and delivered through seemingly sympathetic digital conversations.
In this premiere episode of Season 2, I speak with Dr. Ghayda Hassan, clinical psychologist, professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and founder and director of the Canadian Practitioners Network for the Prevention of Radicalization and Extremist Violence.
Together, we explore the psychology of radicalization, the human need for identity and belonging, and how AI may amplify prejudice, validate grievances, and reshape the pathways toward extremism. We also examine the particular vulnerabilities of young people, the role of social polarization, and what the emerging evidence actually tells us about these risks.
But this conversation isn’t simply about the dangers of technology. It’s also about prevention, resilience, and the possibility of using our understanding of human behaviour to interrupt hatred before it takes hold.
If AI can amplify our divisions, can we harness it to strengthen our humanity?
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