Q&A: The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Our Future
The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Our Future
Question
Hello.
I am a computer science student who finds himself making use of artificial intelligence applications.
True, this is not yet perfect, but AI applications are already managing to excel at tasks like writing certain kinds of code and the like. There is also a free Google application, NotebookLM, into which you can upload PDF documents and even YouTube videos that support subtitles, ask it questions based on the material in the documents or videos, and ask it to prepare an audio file of two characters having a conversation about the topic. Truly amazing.
It made me wonder, in light of the development of the artificial physical figure Optimus, whether it is possible that in the coming years these applications will succeed in replacing fields such as gardeners, etc. Will there continue to be a livelihood for people engaged in those professions?
One cannot ignore the fact that artificial intelligence can streamline many areas of life, but at what price? If in medicine it helps, or may help, save lives, what kind of life will the person whose life was saved have if he has no source of income and lives in hunger?
And just one more point regarding the motivation of those who contributed greatly to developing this thing and are now coming out against further development. Why did they give in from the outset to the urge of curiosity and contribute to this thing? Perhaps they did not know it would develop in these directions?
I do not expect you to answer the questions asked so far—they were meant to help convey the point.
The question is: in your opinion, does artificial intelligence truly threaten our future?
Answer
I have written here more than once about people’s technophobia. True, here it seems there really could be a threat, but usually the threat comes from the human beings who use the technology, not from the technology itself. As for livelihood, yes, people have indeed already addressed this. See, for example, a lecture by Daniel Schreiber (the brother of my son-in-law's father-in-law): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gqtckj0Ohc
Discussion on Answer
I think that will happen only if human beings allow it or want it.
Regarding the sentence, "usually the threat comes from the human beings who use the technology, not from the technology itself"—
the problem here is that these systems are given a "decision-making ability" like that of human beings.
It has already happened that such a system recommended that a child kill his parents, and what will happen when this system is embedded in a robot that is also capable of doing it, and afterward sharing its success with its fellow robots (this is not far-fetched)