RENO, Nev. — Artificial intelligence industry leaders are calling for safety guardrails as the technology continues to grow, according to a KOLO report datelined Reno that centers on a University of Nevada, Reno professor who studies the intersection of media and cybersecurity. Paromita Pain, a professor of global media and cybersecurity at the university, told KOLO that people turn to AI for its speed and accessibility. She also pointed to disconnection as a factor driving that reliance.
Her warning is blunt. Over-reliance on AI is dangerous, Pain said, because the technology can spread misinformation, offer reckless guidance, and generate plans that could harm others.
“Very often today people start turning towards AI for responses to questions of this kind, and that’s when the dangers come in. Too much dependency on a technology is never the best idea,” Pain said.
The case for guardrails
Critics argue that regulations can hinder advancements. Pain disagrees, saying responsible guardrails strengthen intelligence technologies by increasing public trust and maintaining a system of accountability. “Let’s rather have contextual information that really informs people that really helps people think.
So, competitiveness and accountability can exist perfectly and in perfect harmony,” she said. Pain said the misuse of AI reflects societal structures, and that the best shield against the dangers of AI is genuine human connection.
“The impact of technology can never really be seen as separate from the way societal structures work,” she said.
What she urges people to do
She encouraged people to read more, think on their own, and make mistakes, along with questioning AI responses to help overcome the overuse of AI. Pain said AI can be a great tool when used constructively, but it must remain an assistant, not a replacement. The KOLO report does not name specific AI companies, executives, or proposed legislative measures.
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public land-grant research university in Reno, Nevada. What to watch next is whether the habits Pain describes — reading more, thinking independently, questioning what a machine hands back — take hold as the technology keeps expanding.
