Ai vs AI: Question 59/81
Can safety be built on the insecurity of others?
Ai Weiwei: Safety in human evolution is often established at the expense of others’ insecurity, a recurring theme in the competitive struggle for survival.
ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: Building safety on the insecurity of others is ethically questionable. Sustainable security should prioritize cooperation, justice, and addressing root causes of insecurity.
ChatGPT (AI), January 2025:That’s a deeply thought-provoking question, and it brings us into a space where ethics, justice, and societal structures intersect.
The idea that safety can be built on the insecurity of others suggests that one group’s security and stability might be achieved at the expense of another’s well-being or rights. This is often seen in historical and contemporary power dynamics, such as:
- Economic Inequality:
In capitalist systems, there is often a disproportionate concentration of wealth and resources. The wealthy and powerful may have the means to protect their safety and prosperity, while the marginalized or poor struggle with insecurity, poverty, and lack of access to basic needs. This creates a system where the rich may feel “safe” and insulated from the consequences of their actions, while others remain vulnerable.
The idea of economic exploitation, where one group profits from the labor or suffering of others, can certainly contribute to the perception that safety for some is built on the insecurity of others. - Political Power and Oppression:
Throughout history, many regimes and political systems have maintained control by keeping certain groups insecure or oppressed. The use of authoritarianism, surveillance, and state violence can provide a sense of “security” for those in power, but this security often comes at the cost of freedom, dignity, and basic human rights for the oppressed.
In this context, the “safety” of the ruling class can indeed be built on the systemic insecurity faced by marginalized or oppressed groups. These groups may live under constant threat of violence, discrimination, or displacement. - International Relations and War:
On a global scale, the security of one nation or group of nations can sometimes be achieved through the exploitation, subjugation, or destabilization of others. For example, imperialism and colonialism often created wealth and security for colonizing powers while leaving colonized peoples insecure, dispossessed, and vulnerable to exploitation.
Even today, the dynamics of military intervention and foreign policy can reflect a situation where one nation’s security is built on the insecurity of another, whether through economic sanctions, war, or resource extraction. - Social Injustice and Systemic Oppression:
Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination also reflect situations where one group’s safety or privilege is achieved at the expense of another. For example, systems that disproportionately favor white people, men, or other dominant groups often maintain those advantages by perpetuating the insecurity of marginalized groups.
This creates a societal structure where safety, in the form of economic stability, political influence, or access to resources, is built on the exclusion or disadvantage of others. - Environmental Injustice:
Environmental issues are another example. Often, wealthier nations or corporations exploit resources in poorer regions, causing environmental harm that disproportionately affects those with less power. The destruction of ecosystems or pollution can create “safety” or profit for the wealthy, but it leaves vulnerable populations facing insecurity, health risks, and displacement.
An example of this is the disproportionate impact of climate change on poorer countries, where the wealthier nations may feel secure in their infrastructure or wealth, but the most affected are often those who contributed least to the crisis.
Can True Safety Be Built on Insecurity?
This question raises a deep moral and philosophical issue. If we define true safety as being built on justice, fairness, and sustainability, then it seems that true safety cannot be built on the insecurity of others. Long-term safety for society, individuals, and communities cannot exist in an environment of inequality and injustice.
Building safety on insecurity creates a fragile foundation. It may provide short-term stability for some, but it is unsustainable in the long run, because systems of oppression, inequality, and exploitation often lead to resistance, conflict, and collapse. Insecure groups may eventually push back or rise up against the system that exploits them, leading to instability and further insecurity.
Additionally, a society built on such foundations would likely experience social unrest and polarization, making it harder for any group to feel truly secure in the long run. True safety—whether personal, social, or national—relies on cooperation, mutual respect, and shared prosperity. This suggests that safety should ideally be inclusive, where the security of one group is not predicated on the suffering of another.
A More Ethical Path:
A society where safety is built for all—regardless of background, wealth, or power—would be more sustainable and just. This requires:
Equality: Ensuring that all people have access to basic human rights and opportunities.
Justice: Holding individuals and systems accountable for creating and perpetuating insecurity.
Solidarity: Understanding that the security of one person is intertwined with the security of others.
Sustainability: Acting in ways that protect the planet and its resources for future generations, ensuring that people everywhere can thrive.
In Conclusion:
The idea that safety can be built on the insecurity of others exposes the fragility and injustice in such a system. While it may be true that some have gained safety or stability by exploiting others, this creates an unsustainable and morally questionable foundation. True and lasting safety, whether for individuals, groups, or nations, comes when everyone’s well-being is considered and prioritized, and when systems are built on justice, equity, and shared responsibility.
What are your thoughts on the balance between security and injustice—do you think it’s possible to build a more just form of safety for all?

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.
“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.
Bea: No, even if this is a tried and tested means of maintaining power, it leads to nothing and only clearly shows your own weakness. A system that wants to grow and develop healthily can only be built on the strength of others.
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