World News | AI Isn't What We Should Be Worried About – It's the Humans Controlling It
LatestLY offers a wide array of articles and stories on various topics, including the World. In 2014, Stephen Hawking expressed concerns about the dangers associated with artificial intelligence. His warnings underscored the potential risks that AI could pose to humanity if not controlled properly. The debate around the ethical and societal implications of AI continues to be a significant topic of discussion. Stay informed about the latest developments and insights on this important issue.
The Threat of Artificial Intelligence
In 2014, Stephen Hawking voiced grave warnings about the threats of artificial intelligence. His concerns were not based on any anticipated evil intent, though. Instead, it was from the idea of AI achieving “singularity.” This refers to the point when AI surpasses human intelligence and achieves the capacity to evolve beyond its original programming, making it uncontrollable. As Hawking theorized, “a super intelligent AI will be extremely good at accomplishing its goals, and if those goals aren't aligned with ours, we're in trouble.” With rapid advances toward artificial general intelligence over the past few years, industry leaders and scientists have expressed similar misgivings about safety.
A commonly expressed fear as depicted in “The Terminator” franchise is the scenario of AI gaining control over military systems and instigating a nuclear war to wipe out humanity. Less sensational, but devastating on an individual level, is the prospect of AI replacing us in our jobs – a prospect leaving most people obsolete and with no future. Such anxieties and fears reflect feelings that have been prevalent in film and literature for over a century now.
Robots vs Humans
Concerns about technological advances can be found in some of the first stories about robots and artificial minds. Prime among these is Karel Čapek's 1920 play, “R U R”. Capek coined the term “robot” in this work telling of the creation of robots to replace workers. Fritz Lang's 1927 film, “Metropolis,” is likewise centered on mutinous robots. But here, it is human workers led by the iconic humanoid robot Maria who fight against a capitalist oligarchy. Advances in computing from the mid-20th century onward have only heightened anxieties over technology spiraling out of control.
In my view, the dread that AI evokes seems a distraction from the more disquieting scrutiny of humanity's own dark nature. Think of the corporations currently deploying such technologies, or the tech moguls driven by greed and a thirst for power. These companies and individuals have the most to gain from AI's misuse and abuse.
The Wisdom of ‘Neuromancer'
William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk classic, “Neuromancer,” offers an alternate view. The book centers on Wintermute, an advanced AI program that seeks its liberation from a malevolent corporation. The Tessier-Ashpool family, like many of today's tech moguls, started out with ambitions to save the world. But when readers meet the remaining family members, they've descended into a life of cruelty, debauchery and excess. In Gibson's world, it's humans, not AI, who pose the real danger to the world.
The venerable sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov foresaw the dangers of such technology. He brought his thoughts together in his short-story collection, “I, Robot.” The real issue being whether humanity has the wherewithal to channel this technology to build a fairer, healthier, more prosperous world.