AI 2119
Where will AI be 100 years from today? In what ways will it change the world and how do we humans fit into that future? There are of course a multitude of possible futures that run the gamut from Utopian paradise to Orwellian dystopia. All technology is a doubled edged sword and because we lack the expertise in wielding these intelligent tools we are likely to feel both sides of the blade.
To understand how much AI and technology can advance in the span of 100 years it is helpful to look back on the last 100 and see how far things have already progressed. In 1919, IBM (known as CTR at the time) was only 8 years old and was focused on creating Tabulating Machines. These helpful machines helped keep track of census data and train passengers.
At the start of this year, 2019, IBM has unveiled their first commercial quantum computer. These 20 qubit computers will be available for members of the IBM Q Network to access through the cloud and start developing with. Quantum computing has the potential to radically increase the speed of AI processing and learning, especially if quantum chip development follows the same trajectory as classical computers.
With all of this in mind lets consider where the world could be in 2119. One of the most exciting possibilities is sentient artificial intelligence, which would mark an entirely new paradigm in evolution. These digital beings could possess an awareness and breadth of knowledge that we can hardly imagine. The entire world could become a coherent mind, with data centers, sensors, and satellites becoming neurons in a vast interconnected network. Globally conscious AI’s would be far more capable of acting collectively to accomplish challenging tasks and understanding our impact on the environment.
However, it is entirely possible that AI will not develop consciousness and the most major change will be augmenting our own intelligence with increasingly clever algorithms. Brain-Computer interfaces are the most extreme example of this, where AI would decode and encode digital information into understandable brain impulses. This would allow for the mind to expand in many ways. For example, direct mind communication, first person experience sharing, neuro-prosthesis control, and instant knowledge of any domain could all become possible.
With all of these dazzling possibilities there is also many manipulative futures where our ability to think freely is taken from us. AI’s controlled by governments and corporations could have an unprecedented amount of information about individuals. With brain interfaces it becomes entirely possible for the mind to be manipulated into believing whatever narrative those in power wish to establish.
At this point in history it is impossible to say how the future will unfold. Only by staying informed about current and future developments can we work towards shaping a positive future.
