Question

Today, almost all of us depend on the internet for a wide variety of purposes. We may be making purchases, reading the news to find out more about the world around us, doing research for school or hobbies, or just enjoying music, movies, and other popular media. The internet has become our main source of information, education, and entertainment. Many people, however, fail to consider what may be going on behind the scenes on our screens. Computer technology can be harmful as well as helpful. While the internet may give us many wonderful things, it also takes something from us—our data.

2
Artificial intelligence can record information from online activity to create a user profile. For example, a student doing research on parrots for a biology report may suddenly find their email inbox flooded with promotional material from companies that sell products to parrot owners. Colorful ads for parrot cages and toys start to pop up on their favorite websites. Why?

3
A computer program cannot tell the difference between someone doing academic research and someone looking to buy a pet parrot. Although some of those ads may be from honest companies, others may be so-called "phishing" schemes. These ads encourage users to give them financial and personal data that can later be sold to criminals. Dishonest people use artificial intelligence to create fake identities that can steal real money and damage reputations.

4
Artificial intelligence does not automatically know if the user is an adult or a child. A student doing research on Paris for a geography project may receive offers for low-cost airfare and hotels aimed at someone planning a vacation in France. Children cannot purchase airline tickets or make hotel reservations, but they may accidentally reveal information about their families that their parents prefer to keep private.

5
Fortunately, people can change their computer settings and preferences to avoid artificial intelligence programs. Artificial intelligence, however, has become so widespread throughout the internet that it may be impossible to escape its reach entirely. One question we need to ask is, "Who benefits most from AI? The one using the computer or those who seek to gain a profit from that activity?"

6
As artificial intelligence expands in scope and power, we need to remain aware of its pitfalls. Human intelligence invented the internet. Hopefully, humans will be able to solve its problems, too.
In the text "AI - Not So Intelligent After All?", how does the author support the idea that AI advertising can potentially be used by criminals?

A.
The author describes how criminals can use information gathered from children to book hotel rooms and flights to France in their name.

B.
The author describes how criminals could use information gathered from online research to order pet products in a consumer's name.

C.
The author describes how the gathering of a person's personal data is often illegal, but many consumers are completely unaware of this fact.

D.
The author describes how criminals can use information from email phishing scams to create fake identities and steal money.

Answer 1

D. The author explains that phishing ads collect financial and personal data, which can be used to create fake identities that steal money and harm reputations.