RECALIBRATING MERIT IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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THE CONTEXT: Recently, the concept of meritocracy where individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and hard work rather than their social status is being extensively debated. Once seen as a fair system for rewarding individuals based on their abilities and efforts, is facing significant challenges in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

CONCEPT OF METERIOCRACY:

• It is a political, social, or economic system in which individuals are assigned to positions of power, influence, or reward solely on the basis of their abilities, hard work, and achievements rather than their social status or background. It represents a rejection of hereditary aristocracy and nepotism.
• The theory of meritocracy presupposes the possibility of equality of opportunity. The evolution of meritocracy has witnessed significant transformations, influenced by the critiques and analyses of thinkers such as Michael Young, Michael Sandel, and Adrian Wooldridge.
• Proponents and critics of meritocracy offer compelling arguments about its impacts on society, highlighting its virtues and shortcomings.

DIFFERENT VIEWS OF SCHOLARS:

• Michael Young’s View: Young, a British sociologist, foresaw a dystopian meritocratic world in his satirical book, The Rise of the Meritocracy (1958). He envisioned a future, specifically 2034, as a society where social class and mobility were determined solely by intelligence and effort, as measured through standardised testing and educational achievement. It was a critique of the then-emerging trend towards a merit-based system, which he feared would lead to a new form of social stratification.
• Michael Sandel’s Stand: Sandel’s critique focuses on the divisive consequences, arguing that meritocracy fosters a sense of entitlement among the successful and resentment among those left behind, thereby eroding social cohesion. Critical theorists also argue on similar lines by critiquing meritocracy for masking deeper power dynamics and inequalities. They say that meritocracy can perpetuate social hierarchies by legitimising the status of the elite under the guise of fairness and neutrality.
• Post-Structuralists Views: Post-structuralists challenge the notion of merit, questioning who defines merit and how it is measured. They argue that concepts of merit are socially constructed and reflect the biases and interests of those in power. Post-structuralism highlights the fluidity and contingency of merit, suggesting that meritocratic systems are inherently subjective and can reinforce existing inequalities.
• Adrian Wooldridge: Wooldridge lays stress on the practical evolution of meritocracy and its potential for reform. In his book, The Aristocracy of Talent, he explores how meritocracy, initially a force for progress and social mobility, has inadvertently fostered new inequalities by becoming somewhat hereditary, with privileges being passed down generations. Despite recognising the potential for meritocracy to create a new elite, Wooldridge believes in its intuitive fairness and proposes reforms that include making selective schools as “escalators into the elite” while improving access for underprivileged students and advocating better technical education.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE(AI) AS A DISRUPTIVE FACTOR

• The introduction of AI complicates the notion of meritocracy by questioning traditional metrics of merit, worsening biases, and polarizing the workforce.
• Recalibrating meritocracy in the age of AI requires a nuanced understanding of its impact on societal structures and a deliberate rethinking of how merit is defined and rewarded.
• AI, with its rapidly evolving capabilities, will be reshaping merit and the idea of meritocracy in six ways.
  1. AI questions the basis of human merit by introducing a non-human entity capable of performing tasks, making decisions, and even ‘creating’ at levels that can surpass human abilities. OpenAI’s Sora is the evidence that creativity is not an exclusive human trait anymore.
  2. The advent of AI challenges the traditional notion of individual merit by prioritising access to technology. Individuals with access to AI tools gain a significant advantage, not necessarily due to their personal abilities, but because of the enhanced capabilities of these tools.
  3. AI systems trained on historical data can perpetuate and even worsen biases present in that data, leading to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as hiring, law enforcement, and lending. These biases can disadvantage groups which are already marginalised.
  4. AI would push the workforce towards either high-skill, high-wage jobs involving complex problem-solving and creativity or low-skill, low-wage jobs requiring physical presence which AI cannot replicate yet. This polarisation will lead to socioeconomic disparities, as individuals without access to high-level education and training are pushed towards lower-wage roles.
  5. The opaque nature of many AI algorithms, coupled with the concentration of power in a few tech giants, poses significant challenges to accountability. In a meritocratic society, individuals must understand the criteria by which their efforts and talents are evaluated. However, the ‘black box’ nature of many AI systems can obscure these criteria, making it difficult for individuals to know how to advance or challenge decisions made by AI, thus eroding the meritocratic ideal.
  6. At the organisational level, the core of AI’s power lies in data and algorithms that process this data. Tech giants with access to unprecedented volumes of data have a distinct advantage in training more sophisticated and accurate AI models. This data hegemony means that these entities can set the standards for what constitutes ‘merit’ in the digital age, potentially sidelining smaller players who may have innovative ideas but need access to similar datasets.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Understanding the criteria: In a meritocratic society, individuals must understand the criteria by which their efforts and talents are evaluated. There needs to be a sophisticated understanding of the interplay between technology and societal structures.
• Rethinking of merit in age of AI: Meritocracy in the age of Artificial Intelligence calls for a deliberate rethinking of how merit is defined and rewarded when AI tools can both augment human capabilities and deepen existing inequalities.
• Strategies for AI potential in India: India, being the fastest growing economy with the second largest population in the world, has a significant stake in the AI revolution. Recognising AI’s potential to transform economies, Indian needs to strategies its approach.
• Establishing standards: Together, the public and private sectors can work to establish standards and policies that ensure new technologies, such as AI and ML. It will help drive human progress and create job opportunities for future workforce and grow our economies.

THE CONCLUSION:

The concept of meritocracy has sparked intense debate, with proponents highlighting its virtues in rewarding abilities and achievements, while critics point to its potential for fostering entitlement and worsening social divides. With the advent of AI, the idea of merit is further complicated, raising questions about human versus machine merit. Addressing these complexities requires a nuanced approach to redefine merit and ensure fairness in the digital age.

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION

Q. Discuss how Artificial Intelligence can be used to meet India’s socio-economic needs. (2020)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Recently, the concept of meritocracy has been extensively debated. Discuss the implications of Artificial Intelligence on the concept of meritocracy, considering its impact on social stratification, biases, and workforce dynamics. Suggest potential reforms in this context.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/recalibrating-merit-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/article67861320.ece