The present "Artificial Intelligence" frenzy is amusing. If you've been reading science fiction since childhood, as I have, you are familiar with the dozens of plots regarding artificial intelligence entities - robots and super computers - taking over the world and destroying humanity, the present hysteria in the news about the threat of artificial intelligence will seem quite naive and amusing.
The best review I've seen of the present state of AI and its possible future, was from John Oliver in a funny, but highly educational, episode of his television show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Artificial Intelligence. (https://youtu.be/3YNku5FKWjw?si=_0HlZS6-er165lc9) You should watch it if you want to know the real story of AI as it now exists. Natural Stupidity is more dangerous than Artificial Intelligence!
But AI has been around for decades. At the end of the last century (I love using that term rather than 1998, for example.) we called it "expert systems". Nothing is really new about AI, just faster computers, cheap large memories, huge data banks, and new software algorithms. But it makes "exciting" news. Nowadays even weather reporting is sensationlized. See a detailed timeline of the development of robotics and artificial intelligence at:
I think you have nicely pointed out that there are disadvantages as well as advantages of AI in your article. What I see happening in the world right now is the excitement of AI with little consideration of the pitfalls. What does happen when AI takes your job? Takes 90% of current jobs? What do those people do? How do they support themselves and their family? I don’t see anyone answering those questions, but the entire structure of our monetized society has to change if we are to embrace AI. We must start thinking in terms of ethics rather than productivity.
Asimov made a good start to this.
The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
The first law, I think, would cover taking a person’s job and throwing that person into poverty, homelessness and starvation.
The only reason I said I wasn’t worried is I am retired. Everything I do these days is volunteer, pretty much, meaning no one would pay me anyway. I think AI will have great applications in medicine, but as an educator, I am getting tired of hearing how totally awesome AI will be when we get the guardrails up. Right, like the guardrails for social media? Wheeee....
While the survey questions don't apply to me as a retired person, I will say I've observed both remarkable benefits of AI and, at the same time, alarming damages from bad actors using AI.
One person’s positive potential is another’s negative impact. I’m a voice actor and a life coach. The need for voice over is significantly decreased with AI. I feel that in my business as clients opt for voice clones. But I use AI to create renders for branding my coaching business which means my need for professional photography is less. So AI has created significant challenges AND opportunities for me. I’ve decided to be curious and open and flexible. I believe that the way we see reality and the meaning of our experience on earth will be shifting in this near future.
Of course a photographer or illustrator might use the same but opposite argument, as you correctly highlight as the dichotomous nature of the conundrum. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and approach. Curiosity can be a super power.
The present "Artificial Intelligence" frenzy is amusing. If you've been reading science fiction since childhood, as I have, you are familiar with the dozens of plots regarding artificial intelligence entities - robots and super computers - taking over the world and destroying humanity, the present hysteria in the news about the threat of artificial intelligence will seem quite naive and amusing.
The best review I've seen of the present state of AI and its possible future, was from John Oliver in a funny, but highly educational, episode of his television show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Artificial Intelligence. (https://youtu.be/3YNku5FKWjw?si=_0HlZS6-er165lc9) You should watch it if you want to know the real story of AI as it now exists. Natural Stupidity is more dangerous than Artificial Intelligence!
But AI has been around for decades. At the end of the last century (I love using that term rather than 1998, for example.) we called it "expert systems". Nothing is really new about AI, just faster computers, cheap large memories, huge data banks, and new software algorithms. But it makes "exciting" news. Nowadays even weather reporting is sensationlized. See a detailed timeline of the development of robotics and artificial intelligence at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_artificial_intelligence
I think you have nicely pointed out that there are disadvantages as well as advantages of AI in your article. What I see happening in the world right now is the excitement of AI with little consideration of the pitfalls. What does happen when AI takes your job? Takes 90% of current jobs? What do those people do? How do they support themselves and their family? I don’t see anyone answering those questions, but the entire structure of our monetized society has to change if we are to embrace AI. We must start thinking in terms of ethics rather than productivity.
Asimov made a good start to this.
The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
The first law, I think, would cover taking a person’s job and throwing that person into poverty, homelessness and starvation.
The only reason I said I wasn’t worried is I am retired. Everything I do these days is volunteer, pretty much, meaning no one would pay me anyway. I think AI will have great applications in medicine, but as an educator, I am getting tired of hearing how totally awesome AI will be when we get the guardrails up. Right, like the guardrails for social media? Wheeee....
While the survey questions don't apply to me as a retired person, I will say I've observed both remarkable benefits of AI and, at the same time, alarming damages from bad actors using AI.
One person’s positive potential is another’s negative impact. I’m a voice actor and a life coach. The need for voice over is significantly decreased with AI. I feel that in my business as clients opt for voice clones. But I use AI to create renders for branding my coaching business which means my need for professional photography is less. So AI has created significant challenges AND opportunities for me. I’ve decided to be curious and open and flexible. I believe that the way we see reality and the meaning of our experience on earth will be shifting in this near future.
Of course a photographer or illustrator might use the same but opposite argument, as you correctly highlight as the dichotomous nature of the conundrum. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and approach. Curiosity can be a super power.