The Ethics of AI & Appropriation of Antiquity

Abstract

In 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rallied in Charlottesville. Then in 2018 Identity Evropa placed fliers on college campuses across America. In 2021 rioters stormed Capitol Hill. The uniting theme, apart from racist claims of white superiority, was the imagery of ancient Greece and Rome. The use of symbols, artwork, and quotations from classical antiquity. There were Roman legion flags in Charlottesville, Greek and Roman statues on the fliers, and Greek helmets at the Capitol. This public pattern of the alt-right misuse of this ancient imagery begs the question; what behavior does the American public now associate with antiquity?I’ve created an AI model for a museum exhibition to navigate this debate from the perspective of Roman historian, Cassius Dio. Dio’s obscurity, brash tone, and extensive bibliography make him an optimal model candidate. Creating this model involves considering the ethical implications of recreating a person without their permission or input, the misinterpretation of such figures by academia, and the role of data mining and its use. I close with a discussion on how the agency of such a model can impact public perception of a figure’s beliefs, and how this could be used to solidify opinion as fact in the public eye.