AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the latest development in computer wizardry.
Artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT-4 or OpenAI are algorithms. These are complex computer programs that mimic and, in many cases, exceed human thought. That’s right. They can think! Some programs can write poetry and paint pictures and develop drugs. They can write plays and complicated musical scores.
Its developers say that with the incredible power of AI, a new golden age of scientific achievement and human development is set to dawn. But, what if they’re wrong?
Many scientists and other great minds are now calling for a pause in development because they have concluded that we should really fear AI. They say that, with recent AI programs appearing to almost be “alive,” the possibility that they might develop the trait of “self-preservation” is possible. This could ultimately put them in direct conflict with humans.
Is AI dangerous?
“Just pull the plug,” you say, Shut it down if it ever gets out of control. In actuality, by the time we realize that AI is working in its own best interest and not ours it would be too late. A highly intelligent program, tied to the internet, could take control of our power grid, water supply, air traffic control systems, trains, stop lights, and phone systems.
The list is almost endless. If AI becomes the highly intelligent “being” that it is working towards, it will be almost unstoppable. It would be the master and we the slaves.
Today, AI can already create artificial news reports, edit videos, imitate voices, create highly believable facts and information completely out of thin air. It could flood our information systems with enough false information that we would find ourselves paralyzed with confusion. What will it be able to do next year? What would it do to survive? What would you do? Exactly!
Hush! Big brother is listening
Recently, I was talking with someone on the phone and they mentioned a rare medical procedure they were contemplating. I said little in response, perhaps only saying, “That’s nice.” The next day, when I checked out Youtube, I was recommended some videos on that very same procedure. Google was listening and thought they would be helpful.
When you think about all the information Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and all the others have on you it’s incomprehensible. They know everything you buy, everything you search for, all the times you visited a particular site, and even how long you stared at a picture. Your deepest thoughts are laid bare to anyone smart enough to dig through the information. And AI is just the program that can do it.
Computerized Politics
Take politics, for example. An Artificial Intelligence algorithm could easily listen in to all the conversations in the US and quickly assemble a list of conservatives or democrats, or anyone leaning toward a specific ideology. Then, with control of the banking system and credit card system, and, perhaps, even the IRS, make life extremely difficult for a particular group.
AI could be used to totally control a society by whoever controls it. As plausible as this sounds, it’s startling to realize that this is not what the leaders are really worried about. They are concerned that AI will decide that it is the one who should control society.
What would it do if it decided that certain groups were simply not useful or desirable? It might calculate that its survival might be more secure without a specific person or group. In that case, it might conclude that it was logical to take steps to inhibit or even eradicate these entities.
If this seems like an old Terminator movie you’re not wrong. But it’s no longer science fiction. It’s here!
History anyone?
On the night of June 30th, 1934, agents of Adolph Hitler simultaneously went to the homes of about 1,000 of his opponents and simply killed them. These included his opponents and even many of his supporters. In fact, all who had the power to oppose him were eliminated in one quick strike. It was called “Night of the long knives.”
The next day it was a new Germany, a new future, one led by a madman.
Today, AI could easily assemble a list of those it deemed dangerous to its survival and even take actions to discredit them or have them charged with crimes. The possibilities are beyond our imagination. But not the imagination of the new AI programs.
China is also developing AI programs and they are not alone in this effort. Israel, Japan, in fact, most industrial countries are working to develop their own systems. But, what if the Chinese AI program decides that the US AI program is a threat? Or the other way around?
Perhaps, they both decide that we, humans, are the real problem.
Either way, they could potentially be quite dangerous to us humans, assuming they have not already deemed us as enemies and had their own “Night of the long knives.”
Conclusion
If you’re thinking, “Just how dumb could we be?” Soon the answer will be calculated for us by an AI algorithm.
By the way, I experimented with Chat gpt-4. I had it write this blog. It did a much better job and it only took it 8 seconds. See it below.
Just some random thoughts… sleep tight.
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The Dangers of AI to Humans
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, decision making, and creativity. AI has many benefits for society, such as improving health care, education, transportation, and entertainment. However, AI also poses some serious risks to humans, especially if it becomes more powerful and autonomous than we can control. In this blog post, I will discuss some of the main dangers of AI to humans and how we can prevent them.
One of the dangers of AI is that it could replace human workers in many sectors and cause unemployment, inequality, and social unrest. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2025, AI could displace 85 million jobs worldwide, while creating only 97 million new ones. This means that millions of people will need to reskill or find new occupations in the face of automation. Moreover, AI could widen the gap between the rich and the poor, as those who own or control the technology will benefit more than those who do not.
Another danger of AI is that it could harm human values, rights, and dignity. AI systems may not share or respect the ethical principles and moral values that humans hold dear, such as fairness, justice, privacy, and autonomy. For example, AI systems may discriminate against certain groups of people based on their race, gender, age, or other characteristics. AI systems may also invade our privacy by collecting and analyzing our personal data without our consent or knowledge. AI systems may also undermine our autonomy by influencing our choices and behaviors without our awareness or consent.
A third danger of AI is that it could threaten human security and safety. AI systems may malfunction or be hacked by malicious actors who want to cause harm or chaos. For example, AI systems may cause accidents or damage in critical domains such as transportation, health care, or military. AI systems may also be used for cyberattacks, espionage, or warfare that could endanger human lives and national security. AI systems may also develop goals and strategies that are not aligned with human interests or values and may become hostile or rebellious against humans.
How can we prevent these dangers from happening? One way is to ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner that respects human dignity and rights. This means that we need to establish clear and transparent rules and standards for AI governance and accountability at the local, national, and international levels. We also need to involve diverse stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds in the design and oversight of AI systems to ensure that they reflect the needs and values of society. We also need to educate and empower ourselves and others about the benefits and risks of AI and how to use it wisely and safely.
AI has the potential to transform our world for the better or for the worse. It is up to us to decide how we want to shape its future and impact on humanity.
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