WILL AI BE A THREAT TO THE HUMANITY? By Rudra Tiwari

 

WILL AI BE A THREAT TO THE HUMANITY?

WHAT IS AI?

AI is an abridgement of the term “Artificial Intelligence”. Artificial intelligence refers to the procedure of imitation of human activities and intelligence by a machine, commonly a computer. It includes reasoning, learning, planning and creativity. It broadly comprises of Big Data, Data Intelligence, Machine learning, Block chain Development, Cloud computing etc.  To put it differently, AI consists of technology-based computer systems that are capable of adapting their behavior and actions to that of a human being to a limited extent.

INTRODUCTION

Like every subject matter, this theme also has diverse views. Though AI has advanced to an advanced level in the form of self-driving cars and intelligent tutoring systems, we are still a long way back from answering this question “correctly”. A famous quote by David Water states, “The potential benefits of artificial intelligence are huge, so are the dangers.”

Often in Life, it’s more about shades of grey rather than black and white. There are both positive and negative AI development scenarios [1].

THE DARK OUTLOOK

In the “dark” scenarios AI turn against humans and become an active source of potential danger to them [1]. This has even been showcased in various movies such as The Matrix, The Terminator, Chappie etc.AI becomes a cause for a cataclysmic World War between humans and the machines as we see in the movie ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’. Machines replace humans in more and more tasks. With the advancements in technology, there is an estimation of a loss of about 85 million jobs that will be replaced by AI by the year 2025 (Source: World Economic Forum).The Machines’ extraordinary capabilities of replication, cryptic coloration (camouflaging), and resource maximization makes them perfect. Their rapid physical expansion results in the decay of the human race. This perspective ends with the view that humans lose their leading role as intelligent beings and no longer control the world. They lose their liberty and their physical existence is threatened.

Many popular scientists and researchers are concerned about the menace which could possibly be caused by the Future “Ultra Intelligent” machines. The potential jeopardy of AI became one of the crucial topics of civic discourse in January, 2015 with a publication. A letter was initiated by Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, and signed by many prominent AI researchers. It was titled as "Research Priorities for Robust and Beneficial Artificial Intelligence: An Open Letter". [2] In the discourse Musk called AI research “summoning the demon” and Hawking warned that the development of AI could “spell the end of human race.”[1].

 

THE BRIGHT VIEWPOINT

On the other hand, if we look at the “bright” side, AI can be the biggest accomplishment for the human race.  AI can store and integrate the knowledge of and for the mankind. AI can interconnect humans in new ways which we cannot even imagine in this so-called modern era. AI can work in partnership with humans and support them in the fulfillment of human goals. AI supports humans in making better and precise decisions .The strengths of AI are combined with the human strengths (such as creativity, innovation, and intuition).Many people believe that such machines functioning on the principles of AI would be the last invention of the Homo sapiens.

As we mentioned about the loss of more than 80 million jobs by Ai, stated by the World Economic Forum, the same report reveals that 97 million new jobs will also be created by 2025 due to AI.

Many people of notable fame predict a positive outcome for artificial intelligence, despite pessimistic outlooks. As they see it, AI will bring a new era into being rather than, perhaps, ending the present one in a less than favorable way. Many professors and research analysts from famous universities such as Stanford, MIT and Harvard proclaim that AI would save and protect the biological diversity on this planet forever. The technology would save humanity, rather than posing a danger.

THE GREY VIEW

 

In the various “grey” scenarios there is no direct action by AI to harm humans. Instead there is a gradual loss of autonomy, and control resulting from more and more tasks and decisions being delegated to AI systems.[1] Although it doesn’t cause any harm to any bipedal , it increases their dependence on the advanced “self-analyzing” machinery. It causes our workforce to evolve and forge itself in a different manner.

Conclusion:

The apparent question is then, which of these visions is correct – if any? Well, There is no certain answer; except for the crowds’ personal opinions. We are still a long way back from the existence of the development of the highly advanced and self-learning AI.

 

 

Cites:

[1] Nowak, Andrzej, Paul Lukowicz, and Pawel Horodecki. "Assessing Artificial Intelligence for Humanity: Will AI be the Our Biggest Ever Advance? or the Biggest Threat [Opinion]." IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 37.4 (2018): 26-34.

[2]Russell, Stuart, et al. "Letter to the editor: Research priorities for robust and beneficial artificial intelligence: An open letter." AI Magazine 36.4 (2015): 3-4.

 

 

 

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