THE DIGITAL PANOPTICON: AI SURVEILLANCE IN EGGER’S THE CIRCLE

Abstract

This research explores the rise of AI surveillance in today's dystopia, where the reimagined digital panopticon breaks human identities down, leading to self-destruction as captured in Eggers' novel, The Circle. Artificial Intelligence (Imitation of human intelligence by machines, particularly in decision making) shapes the patterns in behaviour and surveillance through technology. The Circle is a representation of this in Mae's work. Holland, whose addition to the tech firm values transparency over privacy, was the first of two people to be fired. The first of two people fired was from Holland, who joined the tech firm with a stated emphasis on transparency, not privacy, which leads to the destruction of a true self. Using the qualitative method, the study displays the phenomenon of a digital panopticon, exploring how AI surveillance impacts the lives of individuals. The author uses the metaphor of a digital panopticon to discuss the effects of AI surveillance on people's lives as it influences the protagonist. The results indicate that Mae gives way to self-regulation, which results in fragmentation of identities and, therefore, psychological and social implications. The effects of AI surveillance and its impact on individuality. It recommends the ethical advancements in technology, along with checks and balances of tech companies, and the priority of real human connections for individuality and privacy.