The Inevitable Grasp of Artificial Intelligence: A Journey Beyond the Event Horizon
Society’s understanding and appreciation of technology generally hinges on the experiences and interactions we have with it on a daily basis. Its existence is acknowledged and while we may marvel at it or perhaps even occasionally express frustration when Alexa pretends not to hear us, it’s rare to find individuals who spend much time contemplating just how staggering and powerful it has grown.
Despite the rapid evolution and exponential growth over the past few decades, technology as we know it has become average and mundane, and largely ignored. This is of course understandable as technological advancements, despite their profound nature, can feel distant and inconsequential in relation to our daily lives. Technology is just there, expected, woven into the fabric of our existence as a constant that is rarely considered. These steady incremental changes can feel so subtle that we barely notice them despite often having tangible examples in the palm of our hand.
All of this highlights an important point that often eludes our grasp: the trajectory of technology and the speed in which we’re hurtling towards an inevitability.
Drawing a cosmic parallel, as our solar system inches closer to the galactic center, our speed theoretically increases. We’re moving nearer to a black hole gaining momentum as we go, and yet we barely register a perceptible difference. Any actual differences experienced are swiftly normalized and integrated, largely without notice or care.
Profound societal shifts however, are impossible to ignore. These pivotal moments in time can be dramatic, leaving the world forever changed in their wake. Historically triggered by significant technological advancements, these shifts can feel out of control to some, traversing into the realm of the unknown, rapidly moving closer towards an inevitability that’s difficult to understand, let alone fully comprehend.
The introduction of artificial intelligence represents one of these moments where significant and profound societal shifts are an inevitability. From my perspective, echoed in conversations over the past few weeks, AI is still largely ignored. There is a pervasive sense that the advent of AI, rather than being embraced, is being treated as if it’s just another mundane technological advancement, some minor niche technology that barely impacts anyone or changes anything. Moreover, the general feeling is that all of this leaves room to simply put it back in the box if we don’t like it.
What I struggle to convey adequately to virtually anyone is that this enormous technological leap is not just a minor speed increase in our traversal through the galaxy, but more akin to our solar system crossing into the event horizon at our galaxy’s center. The impact of this shift may be initially subtle, but it is inevitable that the pull will soon be realized and the inescapable reality begins to dawn for many.
The challenge with venturing into the unknown, much like the mystery of what lies within and beyond a black hole, is the uncertainty that comes with it. Are we heading towards an inevitable societal destruction, or are we on the brink of moving beyond our current comprehension, towards something infinitely more amazing?
Either way we look at it, we are at a critical juncture and we have a choice to make: embrace the change and adapt to it, or resist the shift and be left behind. Whatever your decision, there is no avoiding it. We are caught in its pull now and you cannot put this back in the box, no matter how hard you try.
