Should we be afraid of the future of AI?
Stone age relics like primitive tools and cave paintings aren’t just fascinating. They also mark the beginning of intelligent humanity. Since then, no other being has even come close to exceeding our mental ability. However, things are starting to change. Artificial intelligence is now smarter than us in many ways, and its repertoire keeps improving. There’s no doubt that AI is our future, but what are the advantages and disadvantages?
AI will take over
People have been concerned about AI even before computers started becoming somewhat intelligent. The 1973 Sci-Fi movie Westworld imagined a holiday resort that flawlessly simulated historical cultures. Instead of employing actors, the theme park owners used life-like robots. The androids were programmed never to harm humans, but a bug in the system changed all that.
While there isn’t anything quite like Westworld in our society, the technology to create something similar could be closer than you think. Still, AI developers tend to be more focused on AI helping us by performing ordinary tasks instead of merely entertaining us.
Benign starting point
Sage is a company that offers HR and accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses. The majority of its users are busy entrepreneurs and business owners who don’t have much time for paperwork. By using this software, these people are spending more time on making money rather than pouring over expenditures.
Last year, Sage decided to apply some new AI features to their offering. The online platform now features Pegg, a smart assistant who helps users with their accounts. Users can interact with Pegg through programs such as Slack and Facebook Messenger. For example, you can send Pegg a photo of a receipt to have her to add it to your expenses or ask her to help track payments and invoices.
The UK government recently revealed another example of using AI software for mundane purposes. The intelligent code can actually scan videos on the internet and determine whether the clip features extremist material — with 99.9 percent accuracy. This will enable authorities to find and block media much quicker than ever before.
Where AI gets scary
With that said, not every part of intelligent software is entirely benign; some have motives beyond helping us. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google are using artificial intelligence to increase targeted advertising. Similarly, the government systems that discover extremist content could be used in more disturbing ways if the technology gets into the wrong hands.
What’s worse is the possibility of AI machines that could kill humans. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s former Secretary General, recently expressed his concerns regarding the subject:
“The use of robots and artificial intelligence within the military might make the whole world more unstable. For that reason, I think we should elaborate an international and legally binding treaty to prohibit the production and use of what has been called autonomous lethal weapons.”
What the world needs now
Luckily, some people are taking the dangers of AI seriously. In fact, two of the biggest players in this field, OpenAl and Google’s DeepMind, teamed up last year to analyze the worst-case scenarios involving AI software. The collaboration revealed some common oversights with AI programming and found practical solutions.
Naturally, a single study only scrapes the surface of artificial intelligence. We can only hope that those in charge will consider both the advantages and disadvantages of a new AI world.
