The article explores the limitations of AI, like ChatGPT, in understanding and replicating human qualities, emphasizing that true humanity is rooted in sensory experiences and emotional connections, which AI cannot genuinely replicate. It highlights how AI can dehumanize by replacing real relationships and suggests that reconnecting with nature and community are essential to regaining our humanity.
The article criticizes the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in Florida, highlighting its inhumane conditions and dehumanizing treatment of migrants, and condemning its construction and purpose as a moral stain on the U.S. government.
Research shows that interacting with emotionally intelligent AI can lead people to perceive humans as less human, increasing the risk of mistreatment; this phenomenon, called assimilation-induced dehumanization, occurs when AI's humanlike qualities blur the line between humans and machines, especially when AI displays moderate emotional skills, but reverses when AI capabilities are extreme or purely cognitive.
The article criticizes Mahmoud Khalil's interview, highlighting his dehumanizing views of Jews, denial of anti-Semitism at Columbia, and justification of violence against Israel, revealing a worldview rooted in resentment and ignorance.
During a campaign rally near Dayton, Ohio, Donald Trump dehumanized immigrants by referring to some crossing the border as "animals" or not even "people," and baselessly claimed that foreign leaders were offloading their prison populations at the southern U.S. border. Despite repeated studies showing that increased populations of undocumented immigrants are generally associated with decreases in violent crime, Trump doubled down on his claims during a Sunday appearance on Fox News, asserting that the "country is being poisoned" by migrants.
The current Israeli zeitgeist is characterized by a spirit of being easy on the trigger, an unbearable lightness of killing and death, and the dehumanization of non-Jews, Arabs, Palestinians, and "leftists." This vigilante spirit has led to the killing of hostages and the overall excuse for any killing in the country.
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, has stated that the dehumanization of Palestinians has allowed the international community to tolerate ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza. Lazzarini warned that UNRWA is on the brink of collapse in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire to end the dire situation in the region.
Roxanne Nai'a Felig's research on objectification reveals that it is not just a metaphorical concept, but a real phenomenon in the brain that causes people to treat women as less-than-human. Her studies show that objectification leads to reduced perceptions of women's capacity to suffer, resulting in reduced sentencing for perpetrators of domestic violence and a lack of empathy towards victims. This phenomenon also applies to self-objectification, where women who rank higher in self-objectification literally feel less cold. Nai'a's research highlights the dehumanizing effects of objectification and its harmful consequences on women's mental and physical well-being.
Mideast scholar Hussein Ibish emphasizes the need for Israelis and Palestinians to stop dehumanizing each other in order to achieve genuine coexistence. He acknowledges the violence and malice on both sides but highlights the toxic relationship of dominance and subordination created by the Israeli occupation. Ibish calls for re-humanization and cooperation to replace the violent occupation and resistance with a sustainable coexistence based on mutual respect and recognition of each other's full humanity.
The Srebrenica genocide, where 8,000 mostly Muslim Bosniaks were killed by Serbian nationalists, was the largest genocide in Europe since the Holocaust. The dehumanization of Muslims played a significant role in allowing the genocide to occur. Remembering Srebrenica requires personal accountability and reflection, as well as humanizing the victims and acknowledging their individual stories. Without proper remembrance, the cycle of empty condolences and endless anniversaries continues.
