Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat?

 

In the contemporary world, human beings are increasingly living longer and healthier lives than was the case decades ago. This is an important measure because it shows that despite some of the problems that are prevalent within it, the world has become a better place for human beings. However, despite this being the situation, the headlines in newspapers and other media tend to show considerable human suffering, to such an extent that there seems to be little hope in the world. Challenges such as climate change, rising sea levels, and the threat of mass extinction from the political and climatic instability that have become prevalent in the world have created a highly pessimistic attitude towards the future. While this may be the case, it is essential to consider that humans are increasingly developing new technologies in order to ensure that there is the achievement of the ideal lifestyle. Among the most prominent of these new technologies is artificial intelligence (AI), which is predicted to have a considerable impact on the lives of humans in future. AI is an essential technology because its advancement will ensure that there are numerous benefits for humanity. It has the potential of making sure that such activities as weather predictions and cancer diagnoses, as well as other critical aspects of human society are made much easier.

AI is the technology of the future and its fullest potential is yet to be unlocked. It brings with it numerous opportunities and challenges, with the former being more pertinent than the latter. The opportunities presented by AI are among the most important when it comes to making sure that humans end up not only surviving on the planet, but also undertaking tasks that are critical. Prominent individuals such as Bill Gates have sought to promote the idea that AI provides an opportunity for humans to be more creative and productive than is currently the case. However, Elon Musk, on the other hand, promotes the idea that AI has the potential of ending up posing an existential threat to humans (Bentley, Brundage, Häggström, & Metzinger, 2018). While these two individuals differ on the characteristics of AI and whether it is a threat, they both agree that AI is the technology of the future and it will end up becoming an inseparable part of human life. Therefore, rather than seeing AI as a threat, it is necessary for individuals to make sure that they undertake a reflection on the manner through which this technology can be managed in such a way that rather than posing a risk to humanity, it can be a means of providing considerable benefits (Boden et al., 2017). AI is not just a matter of the future, but has become a critical aspect of the lives of individuals across the world. Thus, for better or for worse, AI is and will continue to be a part of the lives of humans, and this is to such an extent that it will likely end up playing an important role in such important aspects of life such as the administration of the criminal justice system.

In addition, rather than being a threat, AI is a highly competent technology which has the ability of executing a large number of tasks at a rapid pace. This is an ability that is beyond most humans, because the latter often need a lot of time and resources to accomplish even the simplest of tasks. AI is important because it has the ability to overcome the cognitive and organizational limitations displayed by humans and instead handle many tasks in a very short time with limited resources. A consequence of this reality is that humans are in need of AI in the process of making sure that tasks that are beyond them can be accomplished not only at a faster pace, but also in a more competent manner with few errors. The latter process, however, should not be considered a threat to the human workforce, because contrary to popular belief, humans are still a necessary aspect in any organization, even if they adopt AI (Yudkowsky, 2008). AI is only considered a threat because of its ability to undertake tasks at a faster pace, but while this may be the case, it is necessary to consider that there is need for humans in the same work environment in order to undertake a diversity of tasks that not only require reasoning, but also a physical touch. AI can be made use of in a diversity of contexts, which is critical in the contemporary world. Under such circumstances, AI is a technology that can complement humans, and its use, not only in the workplace setting, but also in the social environment, could go a long way towards not only improving lives, but also making life much easier for individuals.

Also, the appropriate application of sophisticated AI systems can help in the resolution of numerous intractable societal problems and conflicts. AI systems can be used in the promotion of resolutions to collective action problems, which are among the most prevalent in the contemporary world (Bentley et al., 2018). This is especially the case considering that there is a constant need to make sure that there is the promotion of a situation where there is the improvement of coordination between diverse groups in a bid to achieve similar goals. Coordination between different parties is often required to ensure that there is the effective achievement of common goals. However, it is human nature to be competitive as a means of making sure that individual goals are achieved at all times. However, the use of AI is critical in making sure that there is the achievement of common goals, in such a way that makes it possible to make seemingly unattainable goals a reality. It is often difficult to monitor human behavior and to detect defects in them in order to ensure that work takes place as expected. While this may be the case, it is noteworthy to consider that the use of AI can bring about considerable improvements, in such a way that makes sure that there is the promotion of effective means of detecting human behavior, especially the ones that might prove negative to the achievement of the tasks that are being carried out, especially in a project or within activities in the workplace. Moreover, AI can play a pivotal role in the establishment of means through which governments coordinate their activities within international institutions. While human intentions tend to be concealed within opaque minds, the same cannot be said about AI, which, because of its openness can be able to ensure greater accountability.

It is pertinent to consider that while AI is applied in a diversity of ways, one of the most pertinent is in government surveillance. This is an extremely important activity because it involves a process where there is the promotion of the interests of the public. Among these interests is security, which is a critical element of the role of government, with AI ensuring that there is the establishment of means through which monitoring on individuals, especially those who are either suspected of crime, or terrorism, to such an extent that they end up being prevented from undertaking some of their activities. However, while this may be the case, it is essential to consider that AI is often abused by governments and companies in such a way that they encroach on the privacy of individuals. A consequence of this situation is that it ends up leading to accusations of AI being out of control and the argument that it should not be used in any form of monitoring. The latter case is one that can be considered to be false, because it is the users of AI, rather than AI itself, who are responsible for its abuse (Epstein, 2015). AI is an extremely useful technology when it comes to ensuring that there is the promotion of effective security, and this is especially the case considering that AI can be made use of as a means of monitoring areas of potential cooperation, such as arms control and cybercrime. It is also essential to consider that while AI can be abused, it is mostly used for the achievement of good objectives and is a tool and not intelligence all on itself, because its major controllers are humans. Thus, AI is not the threat that it is made out to be, and to consider it to have the potential of facilitating abuse of the privacy of individuals by governments and companies is not true.

AI is an essential tool when it comes to the process of unlocking a society that is based on ethics and leisure for individuals within it. Predictions have shown that AI is going to play a critical role in making sure that there is the automation of jobs (Lawrence, 2017). The automation of human jobs will ensure that the individuals involved have more time in their hands to undertake activities that they enjoy. Instead of taking over human jobs, AI is a tool which will ensure that there is the promotion of the goal of bringing about significant changes to the work environment (Russell, Hauert, Altman, & Veloso, 2015). AI will not replace human workers, and instead, the latter will have to be present in the workplace to ensure that the AI systems are working properly. As the ultimate controllers of these systems, human workers will require to develop new skill sets aimed at making sure that they advance the skills that they already have to encompass the involvement of AI in their work environment. While the time period before the automation of all human jobs has still not been determined, it is noteworthy to consider that with automation, human workers will have more leisure time. Instead of being a threat to jobs, AI will ensure that there is the establishment of a new type of society, where there is the renegotiation of the social contract in such a way that leaves humans at an advantage. A new social contract would involve the establishment of stronger ethical requirements within society, in such a way that individuals would be helped by AI to undertake their work in a manner that is as efficient as possible, while at the same time allowing for the continued presence of humans in the workforce as controllers and supervisors of the AI systems.

AI is the technology of the future and it is here to stay. Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that there is an understanding of the way that this technology is going to expand its influence across various aspects of the lives of individuals. However, this technology should not be viewed as a threat because it is one that, despite its seemingly independent nature, is actually under the direct control of humans. This means that even in a situation where jobs and other functions increasingly become automated; there are instances where there will be a process that seeks to involve humans in the workforce. In addition, the automation of various aspects of human life has the potential of triggering a new type of society, where individuals within it agree to a new system that enhances the human role (Chui, Manyika, & Miremadi, 2015). For example, governments could end up agreeing to create a value in work, and that paid work should continue because it is one of the ways of enhancing its value. A consequence of this situation is likely to be that humans will end up seeking to undertake activities that they find to be rewarding to themselves rather than just being involved in the workforce because of a desire to earn money. Furthermore, in a system that is dominated by AI, humans could end up in a scenario where they are able to earn some money from their governments to help them live comfortably while at the same time seeking to establish a society where they are able to have a higher standard of living through their own efforts. AI has the potential of making sure that human society is greatly improved from what it is today, where the economic worries of individuals make it extremely difficult for individuals to focus more on their personal interests.

In conclusion, the presence of AI is not a threat to humans, and should instead be considered to be an advantage because it is a technology whose potential is limitless. The achievement of the goal of automating work could go a long way towards making it possible for human society to change for the better in such a way that enhances the lives of individuals. AI is also an essential aspect when it comes to bringing about an enhancement of efficiency in the delivery of services, in such a way that promotes the establishment of more responsible government, while at the same time helping in bringing about more effective ways of managing problems associated with collective action such as climate change mitigation. AI is going to become the biggest part of the global economy in future, and its increasing use in various technologies shows that it is widely accepted by people across the world. So far, it has not proven to be a threat, and has instead become one of the best ways of helping facilitate the ease of life among individuals.