Artificial Intelligence: Are We Opening Pandora’s Box?

Today, Basket turns its attention to a technology that is increasingly useful, increasingly powerful—and still surrounded by a certain taboo: artificial intelligence.

Whether we call it AI or IA—intelligence artificielle—the technology is now everywhere. It is built into our smartphones, integrated into applications, used by companies in chatbots and call centres, and increasingly present in hospitals, schools, offices and public services.

For clarity, when we use the terms AI or IA in this article, we are referring to computer systems capable of performing tasks that traditionally required human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning and problem-solving.

But the real question is no longer whether AI is coming. It is already here.

The questions are more difficult: How much does it cost? Who benefits from it? Who pays the price? And are we prepared for the consequences of becoming so dependent on technology?

In this article, Basket examines how businesses are integrating AI into their services, the financial and environmental cost of doing so, and the risks that come with placing increasingly important parts of our lives in the hands of automated systems.

In the second part, we will look at the people who have already become victims of this technological revolution—and at the possibility that a new generation of anti-technology movements could emerge from the damage left behind.

The most uncomfortable question may be this: if our digital systems suddenly failed, would we still know how to function without them?

The AI revolution comes at a price

AI is often presented as the next great technological revolution. And in many ways, it is.

It is helping researchers develop new medical treatments, automating repetitive tasks, improving access to information and allowing businesses to process enormous quantities of data at extraordinary speed.

For individuals and organisations, the promise is obvious: do more, do it faster and, in some cases, do it better.

But technological progress is rarely free.

Businesses are under growing pressure to adopt AI simply to remain competitive. The result is a technological arms race in which companies risk investing in systems they do not fully understand simply because their competitors are doing the same.

The smarter approach is not to implement AI everywhere at once. Companies should first identify the areas in which it can genuinely create value. Clear objectives, pilot projects and measurable results can help prevent organisations from spending enormous sums on technology that produces little real benefit.

Scalable, cloud-based solutions may reduce upfront investment, while employee training can help ensure AI is used responsibly rather than treated as a magical replacement for human judgment.

Privacy and transparency are equally important. Businesses must explain how data is collected and used. They must also establish clear rules about what AI can and cannot do.

At Basket, our role is not to tell companies to reject technology. On the contrary, we want to help organisations use it intelligently.

But we still have more faith in people than in machines.

AI should be an extension of human ability—not a replacement for human responsibility.

The hidden cost of convenience

The AI boom also has a darker side.

These systems require enormous amounts of computing power. That means more data centres, more electricity and more sophisticated cooling systems to prevent hardware from overheating.

The environmental cost of AI is therefore becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Training and operating large models can consume vast amounts of energy, while the expansion of data centres is placing additional pressure on electricity and water supplies in some regions.

The more dependent we become on AI, the more energy we need to keep it running.

And this is where the discussion becomes uncomfortable.

We are often told that technology is making our lives easier. But what happens when the systems designed to help us begin to shape our behaviour, our relationships and even our understanding of reality?

The rise of AI-powered virtual companions offers one example.

For some people, these systems are simply tools. For others, particularly those who are isolated or vulnerable, an AI chatbot can become something much more significant. A conversation can become a routine. A routine can become an emotional attachment. Eventually, a machine can begin to occupy the role of a friend, a partner or even a trusted confidant.

But an AI is not our friend.

It does not understand us in the same way another human being does. Much of what it produces is based on information gathered from vast quantities of data, and the internet is not a reliable source of truth simply because something has been published online.

This does not mean that AI is inherently dangerous. It means that we must stop treating it as if it were human.

The danger begins when we forget the difference.

(Des manifestants anti-tech le 1er mai 2025 à Paris. - )

The victims of the revolution

Every technological revolution creates winners and losers.

AI is no exception.

Some people have lost jobs or fear losing them. Some have been deceived by AI-generated content. Others have had their work used to train systems without their consent or compensation. Some have been tracked, analysed or profiled in ways they never agreed to.

There are also victims of AI-powered fraud. People have been deceived by fake voices, fake images and fake identities. Some have even believed they were communicating romantically with celebrities who were not actually involved at all.

These are not abstract problems.

Behind every technological failure, there is a person.

And when enough people feel that technology has taken their job, stolen their work, invaded their privacy or destroyed their trust, resentment begins to grow.

This is where we must be careful.

The existence of AI does not mean that every criticism of technology is irrational. On the contrary, many criticisms are legitimate and necessary.

At the same time, anger can be exploited.

A person who has lost everything because of a technological transformation may become vulnerable to movements that promise revenge. Groups opposed to technology could become increasingly radicalised, particularly if they believe that governments and companies have ignored their suffering.

The danger is not simply that people may reject technology.

The danger is that someone else may use their anger.

At Basket, we believe it is important to recognise both sides of the AI revolution. Artificial intelligence can improve healthcare, automate tedious work, increase access to information and create new opportunities.

But recognising its benefits does not mean ignoring its victims.

For someone who has lost their job, privacy, or work because of AI, it can be difficult to celebrate the technology that may be responsible for their situation.

That anger deserves to be understood—not dismissed.

Are we prepared for a digital collapse?

This brings us to a more extreme, but increasingly relevant, question.

What happens if the systems we depend on suddenly stop working?

Imagine a large-scale cyberattack targeting servers, communications networks, financial systems, hospitals and essential infrastructure.

Could our economies continue to function?

Could hospitals operate?

Could people communicate?

Could governments respond?

Or would we discover that we have become so dependent on digital systems that we no longer know how to operate without them?

This is the question behind the idea of a “Zero-Day” scenario: a sudden and devastating technological disruption that forces society to return to analogue methods.

The concept may sound like science fiction. But preparedness should not depend on whether the scenario sounds dramatic.

Governments and organisations should maintain reliable backup systems for critical infrastructure. Essential services should have contingency plans that do not depend entirely on digital networks.

Hospitals, transport systems, emergency services and communication networks need clear procedures for operating during prolonged outages.

Cybersecurity must also be treated as a permanent responsibility rather than a one-time investment. Staff should be trained. Emergency plans should be tested. Simulations and drills should be conducted before a crisis occurs—not after.

And perhaps most importantly, ordinary citizens should know what to do during a major digital blackout.

Panic is often caused not only by the crisis itself but also by the absence of preparation.

The future is still ours to decide

Artificial intelligence is neither a miracle nor a monster.

It is a tool.

And, like every powerful tool, its consequences depend largely on how we choose to use it.

The problem is that we are currently adopting AI faster than we are debating its consequences.

We are building systems before we have decided how much power they should have. We are allowing companies to collect enormous amounts of data before many people understand how that data is used. We are making ourselves increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure without always maintaining a reliable alternative.

That is the real danger.

Not that AI will suddenly become evil.

But that human beings may become too dependent, too careless or too powerless to question the systems they have created.

At Basket, we are not against technology. We use it, study it and recognise the extraordinary possibilities it offers. IA needs us to be framed so that IA stays a plus for humanity and not something we can’t control. 

But we believe technology should serve people.

And if artificial intelligence is to become one of the most powerful tools humanity has ever created, then the most important question is not whether machines are becoming more intelligent.

It is a question of whether we are becoming wise enough to control them.

At Basket, we would like to say yes, but we still believe IA must be framed to keep it under control. We believe that IA must be used responsibly. In the case of a Zero Day scenario, which is still very unlikely for us at Basket but also possible, our governments, financial institutions, hospitals, trains, and more must be prepared, especially now.