Artificial Intelligence: A Friend or a Foe?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most discussed topic in the technology world right now and foreseeing the danger it can possess to humans, some are still in the shadows of fear and agony. Like every other innovation of the world, AI can indeed be a friend if in right hands. The other instance would really prove it as a foe without any doubt. Here we are listing out the top AI-risks we could face and the ways we could deal with them.
1. Threat to Human Existence
A super intelligent AI showing human emotions are centuries away, but there is no assurance of AI to act benevolent when arrived. At accomplishing goals, they’ll be so good but we must make sure that the goals given to them are set by us or else we’ll have to suffer the after-effects. Many big names including Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Bill Gates fear that the potential for AI’s development can be the cause of humanity’s demise. They believe that one day AI will be super intelligent and they’ll replace humans altogether. They even called for an outright ban on the development of AI agents for military purposes.
The fact is that everyone knows that if given the fullest power, the super-AI will overcome the human intelligence and soon the planet will be controlled by them, which dangers the human’s existence in this planet. But still a huge number of the experts think that these warnings are just fear mongering and they suggest that people should worry more about the existing problems like climate change, nuclear weapons, and neo-fascist political movements and not to worry about artificial intelligence enslaving us.
2. Unemployment
Back in time, before wheel was invented, 1000’s of men were needed to haul things, but when wheel was invented it brought in more ideas which needed more men and look how the auto industry is developed now and see the employment technology has created globally. Fear of job loss is understandable, but people must keep in mind that many of them are currently doing jobs that weren’t available two three years back. The people who adapt to the AI will continue while others will end up losing their jobs. AI as a tool does have many useful applications which won’t endanger the job market like Jarvis from the movie ‘Iron Man’. The personalized AI can be very handy at home. AI will benefit with reduction in paid, full-time work, thus the part-time work or job sharing will lead to increased leisure time and a happier world.
3. Lack of proper knowledge about AI-technology
According to a recent EY online survey conducted among technology professionals, 56 percent of respondents claim that a lack of AI talent is their biggest hurdle. What’s interesting is that the number rose from 36 percent when same survey was conducted four months back to a different group of technology professionals. If proper supervised training is given depending on the design of the AI, a productive team can be made and they can lead the innovations in organizations. Small firms nowadays use AI technology initially and this can lead to Dunning-Kruger effect (where they believe that they know more than what they actually do). However, within a decade or so, lot of education and analysis is necessary because government is already clueless and they might not act quick even when they’re informed earlier. Several programmes have been initiated, like Amazon’s Career Choice programme, which encourages employees to learn the required skills for future employment. Proper training can reduce the risk factor in organizations.
Speaking about the risks involved in bringing AI into industries, Subrat Parida, CEO, racetrack, says, “The future of job markets are going to increase a lot, the slow transition period of 5-10 years will give sufficient time for industries to adopt the technology. Depending upon the design of the AI, proper controls should be given and this AI powered decisions will shape up the industry in a better way”.
How to be prepared for the AI-world
Often when something is introduced into our daily life, society is quick to point out the flaws it can bring. We have a choice whether to embrace it or fear it. The thing is that people who embrace it from the start will end up at top while others who ignore it will have to catch up. We must be aware of all the AI-risks when we bring them into the organizational innovations and other developments and these AI risks are not something to be taken lightly, because if the control is not in the right hands, it can be the very reason for self-destruction. The changes you make now will be crucial for preparing for the next era. Be more human and see the AI machines not as competitors but as companions.
Who is AI to us?
Evolution of technology is a natural phenomenon and it is the human who makes it a friend or foe. For instance, let’s take the case of Newton’s third law of motion; it was not made for developing weapons. Same goes with the AI, people can use it for good deeds like developing medical equipments or killing machines. Similarly, centuries ago almost 90 percent of population was involved in agriculture and now only two percent is involved in the same but we developed instruments and machines which paved job opportunities for many. Depending on who uses it, AI can be judged whether it’s a friend or foe. Just like every other developments, once advancements reaches a certain stage, they can be split into two, one that makes advancements and one that dodge these advancements. There is a lot of noise created about AI nowadays and just like every other technology, impact is often overestimated in the short term and underestimated in the long term. Soon world will realize the importance of AI and despise the life before.
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