“The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.”
— John Connor
Artificial Intelligence (AI): #AI is a technology that enables machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. Its implications on society include improved efficiency, automation of tasks, and enhanced problem-solving, but there are also several potential dangers associated with its development and deployment.
Some of the most significant dangers, or risks, of large-scale implementation of AI include:
Unemployment: As AI systems become more advanced, they may be able to perform tasks that were previously done by humans, which could lead to significant job losses in certain sectors. There is no "may be able to", this is already happening. We've been seeing it unfold over the last few years and now, with applications like ChatGPT4, we are seeing wide-spread adoption of AI. Just recently, in the last few months, Buzzfeed announced it was firing 180 employees, and replacing the work they did with ChatGPT. Case in point; And there are many other stories like it.
Bias and discrimination: We already know AI systems can be biased due to the data they are trained on or the algorithms used to create them, leading to discrimination against certain groups. Remember Tay, Microsoft's AI chat bot? That was a fiasco.
Lack of transparency: In my opinion, this is the most difficult aspect. Can't live with it, can't live without it. AI systems can be difficult to understand, making it difficult to determine how they are making decisions and whether they are acting ethically A Harvard Business Review article states, "Transparency can help mitigate issues of fairness, discrimination, and trust — all of which have received increased attention. Apple’s new credit card business has been accused of sexist lending models, for example, while Amazon scrapped an AI tool for hiring after discovering it discriminated against women." Great, we love transparency, but in the next paragraph, transparency is a risk.
Security risks: AI systems can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and could potentially be used to carry out malicious activities, such as cyber warfare or terrorism. There are too many to list here but I will provide a few: 1.) Compromising integrity of the AI decision-making process. 2.) Data poisoning 3.) Transparency measures. 4.) Lack of policy/certification for AI. 5.) Lack of audit capability. 'Nuff said. Security is a MAJOR issue with AI.
Control and accountability: Okay, this is some Skynet stuff here, and I'm not talking about the NSA's surveillance program. That's another article, for another day. As AI systems become more advanced, it may become difficult to control them, and it may be unclear who is responsible if something goes wrong. Can you imagine the sh!tshow that would unfold in a crisis like this? The US has literally botched what seems like every crisis response ever. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) sums it up like this: "It may be theoretically impossible for humans to control a super-intelligent AI, a new study finds. Worse still, the research also quashes any hope for detecting such an unstoppable AI when it’s on the verge of being created." Great, that's not scary at all.
Existential risks: Some experts warn that the development of super-intelligent AI could pose an existential risk to humanity if it becomes impossible to control or if it decides to act against our interests. No comment. Nope. No. No Sirrrr.
Honestly, is this road worth going down? Feels like doom and gloom ahead. What do you think?
### END
Author Bio: I am a mom, consultant, writer, and investor who loves to learn. I have over 320,000+ followers on LinkedIn, and over 75,000 subscribers to my newsletter, “Emerging Technology”. In 2016, LinkedIn.com named me in their annual “Top Voices” list as one of the “10 must-know writers in technology”.
I started this website in 2015, after years of jumping from blogging platform to blogging platform. Ever since my first blog in 2003, I have enjoyed sharing knowledge, providing resources, and voicing my opinions.
I hold an AS in Social Sciences, a BS in Human Services and Community Health, and a MS in Corporate & Organizational Communication. Additionally, I have held various designations and licenses over the years such as Licensed Real Estate Agent. My professional work spans several industries with jobs ranging from Trust Fund Associate to Golf Course General Manager to Strategic IT Communications Specialist.
These days, I work as a Senior IT Consultant helping organizations expand and grow, mitigate risk, identify gaps, find efficiencies, and improve processes. Outside of work, you can find me hanging out with my kids, cuddling with the dog, gardening, working out, reading, watching movies, golfing, cooking, or napping.