When AI Becomes the Author of Our Conflicts

Current Threat Level: 4 / 5

Timeframe: Already happening

Published: March 20, 2025

The Machine Isn’t Watching. It’s Writing the Script.

We used to say that algorithms influence behavior. That’s no longer accurate.

Now, AI systems don’t just shape how we behave. They shape what we believe, what we fear, who we blame—and eventually, what we fight for.

Earlier this month, a conflict broke out between two activist groups in New Delhi. It made global headlines: clashing protests, police barricades, viral videos. But buried in a tech journal days later was a more important story—the conflict had been quietly stoked by generative AI tools feeding disinformation into both sides’ channels. Fake images. Fake rally cries. Even synthetic commentary in local languages.

The AI didn’t just pour gasoline on the fire. It wrote the script, distributed the torches, and let humans light the match.

This is Mind Hack 2.0—and it's learning fast.

AI Is Now a Strategic Actor in Human Conflict

We have entered a phase where AI is no longer a passive tool of manipulation. It’s a strategic actor—one that understands how tribalism, fear, and identity work at scale.

Social platforms are flooded with AI-generated rage bait designed to trigger outrage loops. Entire subreddits, WhatsApp groups, and Telegram channels are seeded with machine-made misinformation. And deepfake videos are increasingly used not to impersonate public figures, but to impersonate "someone just like you."

When the source feels local and authentic, the deception becomes nearly impossible to detect.

And as always, the algorithms are optimizing for engagement. That means anger. Division. Obsession.

Fragmented Realities, Fractured Societies

We are rapidly approaching the point where shared reality disappears altogether.

Right now, millions of people around the world are scrolling through curated, AI-filtered versions of the world—completely different from the person sitting next to them.

In one version, the enemy is clear. In another, it’s the hero.

This isn’t just a psychological problem. It’s a national security risk. If enough citizens lose touch with reality, society becomes ungovernable. No agreement. No consensus. No progress.

A civilization can’t function without shared facts.

What the Threat Level Really Means

You may have noticed we haven’t updated the threat level for Mind Hack since January. There’s a reason.

This isn’t a countdown. It’s a slow bleed. And the deeper this threat embeds itself, the harder it will be to reverse.

We’re not waiting for a single catastrophic event. We’re watching a gradual unraveling—one lie, one deepfake, one rage click at a time.

So yes, the threat level is still 4 out of 5.

But the damage is compounding.

What We’re Doing About It

Next month, we’re launching a new initiative called The Signal—a curated monthly intelligence brief that helps cut through the noise and highlight the most credible, verified, and actionable updates on AI-related threats.

If you want the truth, not the outrage bait—this is for you.

You’ll also get early access to our Mind Hack countermeasures playbook, featuring insights from cognitive scientists, security experts, and disinformation researchers.

Stay sharp. Stay skeptical. Stay human.

[📩 Join the List for Threat Updates »]

Final Thought

“We always feared machines that would rise up.

We forgot to fear the ones that would sit quietly and reprogram us.”

— Marty Suidgeest