The Times Australia
The Times Australia

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Avoiding AI is hard – but our freedom to opt out must be protected

  • Written by James Jin Kang, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, RMIT University Vietnam

Imagine applying for a job, only to find out that an algorithm powered by artificial intelligence (AI) rejected your resume before a human even saw it. Or imagine visiting a doctor where treatment options are chosen by a machine you can’t question.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s becoming a reality for many people today. AI quietly shapes almost every part of our lives – from the news we read chosen by AI to how our cities manage traffic. AI promises convenience, productivity, innovation and efficiency.

But as it grows more powerful, one urgent question is being overlooked: do people have the right to live free from AI’s influence?

Excluded from modern life

Opting out of AI is no simple matter.

AI powers essential systems such as healthcare, transport[1] and finance[2].

It also influences hiring decisions[3], rental applications[4], loans[5], credit scoring[6], social media feeds[7], government services[8] and even what news or information we see when we search online.

Challenging decisions made by AI in your life can be enormously difficult – and may only be able to be done in court[9]. It’s even harder to choose to live without AI entirely, as this requires stepping away from much of modern life. For example, Australian users of Meta’s social media platforms cannot opt out[10] of having their data used to train the company’s AI models.

A growing divide

AI-driven systems are biased[11]. Automated hiring tools favour certain demographics[12], and AI-powered credit scoring[13] can unfairly deny loans.

These biases are not just theoretical but they are real and present in our daily interactions. If AI becomes the gatekeeper for essential services, those who choose to avoid it could face significant disadvantages.

In many countries where digital systems are expanding rapidly, a large portion of the population struggles to adapt[14] to these technologies. For example in India, only 12%[15] of people over the age of 15 are considered digitally literate highlighting the challenges of technological changes.

Many face exclusion simply because they don’t fit into the AI-defined model. In these cases, opting out of AI isn’t a personal choice anymore, but it’s a matter of survival in a rapidly changing world. The divide between those who embrace AI and those who are left behind is widening and becoming a social barrier.

This isn’t just about bias or inefficiency. It’s about the fundamental transformation of our society, where the connected, the optimised, and the machine-readable dominate – and the rest of us are left in the shadows.

A lesson in control

The story of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe written in 1797, is a powerful reminder of the dangers of unleashing forces we cannot control.

In the tale, an apprentice uses magic to perform tasks but loses control of the enchanted broomstick, leading to chaos and disaster. Today, AI is that uncontrollable force. It has the potential to make life easier but also poses serious risks when it gets out of hand.

The problem isn’t just about safety but about freedom. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice teaches us, as historian Yuval Noah Harari has written[16], to “never summon a power you cannot control” – a reminder that even well-meaning advancements can spiral out of control if we fail to manage them properly.

As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, the issue isn’t just about whether it works. It’s about whether we have the right to decide how much of it we want in our lives. The freedom to choose, to opt out, is essential to preserving our autonomy in the digital age.

A large blue and white sign featuring Meta's logo.
Australian users of Meta’s social media platforms cannot opt out of having their data used to train the company’s AI models. Tada Images/Shutterstock[17]

What needs to change?

To protect the right to live a life free from the constant influence of AI, we must act now.

While most[18] AI governance frameworks[19] emphasise responsible use[20] focusing on fairness, transparency and accountability, they often overlook a vital principle: the right to disengage from AI systems entirely without facing exclusion or disadvantage.

Governments, businesses and communities need to create policies that not only regulate AI but also respect individual freedoms. People should have the option to live without AI, without facing discrimination or exclusion from essential services.

AI decision making also needs to be more transparent. Whether it’s automated hiring, healthcare or financial services, AI should be understandable, accountable and open to scrutiny. No longer can we allow these systems to operate behind closed doors, making decisions that affect people’s lives with no recourse for the individuals involved.

Finally, society must invest in digital literacy. Everyone should understand the systems that impact their lives and have the tools to challenge them when necessary. Ensuring people know how to navigate and control the technologies that shape their world is essential in maintaining freedom in the digital age.

An urgent question

Some may ask, why not just add a kill switch to AI and shut it down if needed? But once AI is woven into crucial systems such as healthcare, transport or communication, it’s no longer something we can simply turn off.

Like electricity or the internet, it becomes a core part of modern life, not easily reversible without major disruption[21].

So as AI spreads further into every corner of our lives, we must urgently ask: will we still have the freedom to say no?

If we don’t act now to protect the right to choose, we risk a future where personal autonomy is compromised, and the influence of AI goes unchecked. The question isn’t whether we can live with AI but whether we will still have the right to live without it before it’s too late to break the spell.

References

  1. ^ healthcare, transport (www.investopedia.com)
  2. ^ finance (www.intel.vn)
  3. ^ hiring decisions (www.youtube.com)
  4. ^ rental applications (www.theguardian.com)
  5. ^ loans (www.aljazeera.com)
  6. ^ credit scoring (www.cash-platform.com)
  7. ^ social media feeds (www.news.com.au)
  8. ^ government services (www2.deloitte.com)
  9. ^ may only be able to be done in court (www.theguardian.com)
  10. ^ cannot opt out (www.smh.com.au)
  11. ^ biased (www.businessinsider.com)
  12. ^ demographics (www.washington.edu)
  13. ^ AI-powered credit scoring (vietnamnews.vn)
  14. ^ struggles to adapt (www.ispionline.it)
  15. ^ only 12% (www.newindianexpress.com)
  16. ^ has written (www.theguardian.com)
  17. ^ Tada Images/Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  18. ^ most (www.wired.com)
  19. ^ frameworks (www.pdpc.gov.sg)
  20. ^ responsible use (aiforgood.itu.int)
  21. ^ without major disruption (arxiv.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/avoiding-ai-is-hard-but-our-freedom-to-opt-out-must-be-protected-255873

Why doesn’t Australia make more medicines? Wouldn’t that fix drug shortages?

About 400 medicines[1] are in short supply in Australia. Of these, about 30 are categorised as critical[2]. ...

The Times Features

AJE Resort ‘26 — “IMPRESSION”

Photographed by Cesar Ocampo | AFW 2025 Day 3, Barangaroo Pier Pavilion There are runways, and then there are moments. Aje’s Resort ‘26 collection, IMPRESSION, wasn’t just a fashi...

Miimi & Jiinda: Weaving Culture, Connection, and Country into Every Thread

By Cesar Ocampo When I sat down with Melissa Greenwood and her mother, Lauren Jarrett—founders of the First Nations brand Miimi & Jiinda—I knew this wasn’t going to be your st...

American Express to Provide $3.95M in Support for Restaurants Worldwide with 2025 “Backing Small” Grant Programs

Sydney, Australia 14 May 2025 – Applications are now open to small business owners who qualify for one  of American Express’ signature grant programs in 2025: Backing Internati...

FARAGE Summer '26 Brings Back the Power Suit — with Edge

Words & Photography by Cesar Ocampo On Day 2 of Australian Fashion Week, I stepped into the FARAGE Summer ’26 runway show not quite knowing what to expect—but walked away thin...

BEARE PARK Pre-Fall 2025 at Australian Fashion Week

Words & Photography by Cesar Ocampo There’s something about BEARE PARK that instantly pulls you in—not with noise, but with a kind of quiet confidence. On Day 2 of Australian ...

Understanding Structured Insurance for Multi-Unit Buildings with Shared Ownership and Common Spaces

When multiple individuals share walls, rooftops, and responsibility for communal spaces, the web of accountability becomes more intricate than it first appears. Beyond the bricks...

Times Magazine

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

Uniden Baby Video Monitor Review

Uniden has released another award-winning product as part of their ‘Baby Watch’ series. The BW4501 Baby Monitor is an easy to use camera for keeping eyes and ears on your little one. The camera is easy to set up and can be mounted to the wall or a...

Top Benefits of Hiring Commercial Electricians for Your Business

When it comes to business success, there are no two ways about it: qualified professionals are critical. While many specialists are needed, commercial electricians are among the most important to have on hand. They are directly involved in upholdin...

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

LayBy Shopping