COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – While national headlines warn artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity, South Carolina residents and students say their everyday concerns center more on privacy, loss of creativity, and digital dependency.
Recent broadcast interviews featuring computer scientists predicting that advanced AI could trigger catastrophic consequences over the next half-century have fueled widespread public anxiety. Yet on the ground in Columbia, people interacting with AI chatbots and algorithms daily say the real friction is already happening on their screens.
For college students navigating classes, AI tools have quickly transitioned from novelty to regular study aids. However, students say reliance on automated assistance can quickly backfire if not managed carefully…