I'm Sorry Dave, I'm Afraid I Can't do That.
The world as we know it will soon be the world as we knew it.
Get Ready…
Whether you like it or not, artificial intelligence is here to stay and may even be here long after we are gone. In just the last six months, developers have made huge strides in the accessibility of AI-powered tools like chatbots and image generators. Even if you're not a tech enthusiast, it’s hard to deny that AI will have a significant impact on virtually every aspect of our lives.
From healthcare to finance, education to transportation, AI is already starting to transform the way we live and work. In healthcare, AI develops new diagnostic tools and personalized treatment plans. In finance, it's being used to detect fraud and analyze investment opportunities. In education, AI-powered systems are helping to create more personalized learning experiences. And in transportation, autonomous vehicles are attempting to revolutionize travel worldwide.
Increased efficiency and convenience are great for everyone, unless it raises legitimate concerns about employment and the role of humans in society. What does this mean for the millions of displaced workers? An entirely new economy based around our robot companions? Universal Basic Income? This is especially concerning when one of the pioneers behind this entire operation is talking like this…
While this approach to revealing society-altering technologies may have worked in the age of dial-up internet, when dealing with nearly sentient robots, this seems like a recipe for disaster. On the one hand, As Altman himself pointed out, having more people testing and tinkering with AI, ultimately results in more refined and effective technologies. Which is part of the reason we are at the point we are today, as a lot of these AI companies are run on “open-sourced” code.
Conversely, the level of individual empowerment brought on by AI may exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones, depending on who has access to these tools and resources. As we venture deeper into the age of AI, we must confront the sobering reality that this technological revolution could worsen the very societal disparities we hope to eliminate. Especially when legislature around the world, at the moment, is ill-equipped to deal with the momentous changes artificial intelligence is poised to bring to us.
Get Set…
As AI technology advances, concerns about the ethics and morality of these systems are coming to the forefront. For instance, how do we ensure that AI algorithms are transparent, fair and free of bias? What happens when AI makes decisions that impact our lives without our knowledge or consent? Who should be held responsible in these instances? Should users be allowed to opt out of artificial intelligence programs as we can now with data collection services on our phones? These are difficult questions reminiscent of the early days of the internet, which will require solutions like Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. (I don’t have any faith that our current government can produce anything of merit that will guide and help people use this technology appropriately in the future). Nevertheless, integral pieces of legislation like this will need to be drafted and adopted fast, because artificial intelligence isn’t slowing down for anyone.
Already, deepfake videos are causing concern about the potential for misinformation and propaganda. The power of AI to manipulate images, audio, and video raises the question of how we can ensure that this technology is used to promote human well-being and the public good. Those funny videos of celebrities having their voices narrated over some video game clip are popping up everywhere and they are hysterical. Now imagine in a year from now, after the technology is even better, some kid decides to release a deepfake video of Vladimir Putin announcing to the world that a nuclear bomb will be dropped on Kyiv. Today, an alarming amount of people already believe low quality green text posts from 4Chan talking about Joe Biden being a reptile, or their uncle’s manifesto about how Donald Trump is the second coming of Jesus Christ. A future where even the most technologically literate person can be fooled is horrifying.
Go!
It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to have serious conversations about the implications of Artificial Intelligence and it’s potential impact on the human race. This is not a task that can be left solely to tech companies or governments - it requires the active participation of individuals from all walks of life. We need to engage in meaningful conversations about the implications of AI, and take a critical look at the systems and structures that currently shape our society. Only then can we hope to create a future in which AI is used to benefit everyone, rather than just a privileged few.
In the end, the role of AI in our society will depend largely on the choices we make. We can either embrace this technology and work to ensure that it benefits everyone, or we can ignore the potential dangers and risks and allow it destroy the world. The stakes are high, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of our society for generations to come. Human or not.
“AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies.” - Sam Altman, 2015