Humanity is still safe for now.
There’s a general fear that AI is going to wipe us out that’s been spreading since long before The Terminator came around in the 80s. Of course, robots and computers were the main things to fear before then, since human beings have usually had something to fear, even if it’s been ourselves at times or the threat of what our fellow human beings can do. Artificial Intelligence though, whoa. That’s a threat that people can’t help but be scared of for several reasons, not the least of which is due to the fact that once they’re programmed, AI programs might end up seeing humans as the greatest threat to themselves, and the world at large. They’re not wrong, honestly. We humans are incredibly destructive and entirely divisive.
Unfortunately, whoever is going to create AI is bound to be just as flawed, since like it or not, humans don’t create absolute perfection. We tend to want it, we think we have it, and we believe that it’s possible, but it’s an entirely subjective idea. That means an AI isn’t going to be perfect, as it will be flawed simply because a flawed being is creating it. Unfortunately, creating AI is an act that becomes an issue rather quickly depending on who makes it and why. Look at what was done with ChaosGPT and the decision to see what might happen if they were given a directive to destroy all humanity. Granted, nothing happens since we’re still here to talk about it. But it does feel like flirting with a gun that may or may not have an extra shell in it.
A lot of people do think that this idea is ridiculous and, to their credit, the idea that science fiction could become reality is kind of ludicrous, at least in the way it’s already been seen. But playing with fire, which is what this essentially is, sounds kind of risky.
The movies aren’t that prophetic
Movies that feature killer AI or AI that has gone haywire and turned on humanity are scary as hell, but not always as realistic. When a person thinks about it, the link between what is real and what is shown on TV is usually slimmer than a thong on a supermodel. The idea that an AI can suddenly take over and use humanity’s technology against them with killer robots and programs that can dominate anything that’s able to connect to a network is scary as a story idea. But so long as humans are in control, there’s not much to worry about.
Okay, let’s amend that. There’s less to worry about so long as humans are willing to stick to theory instead of the application. But those days are coming, or so some folks think.
AI has already been used in a few suspect creations
Outside of the experiment with ChatGPT, nothing has really been done thus far that can be seen as highly questionable. AI hasn’t hit Skynet level, as far as anyone knows, but it has been allowed to infiltrate the music, art, and writing industries, and it looks like it’s poised to enter the acting industry if Deepfake has its way. The reason that there’s an issue here isn’t the fact that AI is being used to create something new, it’s that humans are seeking to take credit for it, and thereby engage in plagiarism on a level that’s a little pathetic and sad, but not necessarily murderous and genocidal. Wondering if those days are coming feels like a dip into paranoia. But then again, knowing what humans are capable of when it comes to dealing with other humans, well…
It’s best to reserve judgment for now, but the history of humanity makes it clear that keeping a weary eye on people is a good idea.
The morality of AI is kind of confusing
In a way, it’s easy to liken AI to having a child, only one makes the child, programs them, and…wow, it’s actually almost just like having a child, just without the mess or the pain. Unfortunately, AI’s childhood, teenage years, and adulthood come within a matter of seconds, minutes, and hours at most usually. Trying to keep up with the growth of AI and how far it can go, especially if it’s allowed to become self-aware, sounds like a nightmare-inducing prospect. Humans have been used to machines serving their needs generation after generation. But as time has gone on, it’s been clear that machines do make life easier, but they also make life harder as well since like it or not, they tend to replace us eventually.
That’s kind of ironic, that humanity creates its own replacement.
AI is kind of hard to discuss without speaking on the limitations of humanity
That might not make sense to some folks, but it does say something about how people view the continued expansion of technology in our lives. How many people can get by without technology these days? What might happen if a lot of people were forced to give up their phones? Some people wouldn’t know what to do without a laptop, a tablet, a PC, or anything that makes their life easier. Hell, some folks would shut down if they had to give up their devices for more than a day. It’s true, technology does make life a little easier since there was a time when we couldn’t speak to each other from half a world away unless we took the time to make the trip. But as of now, the grip that technology has on the world makes it apparent that some of the movies featuring the downfall of humanity via AI might not be as farfetched as some think. Teaching AI programs to think around corners and in an erratic fashion could end up as a very poor decision on humanity’s part.
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
Like all opinion articles, this one is meant to make people think, not to make them any more paranoid than they need to be. But there is a lot to discuss when it comes to the role of AI in this world. There’s also a lot to say about those humans who want to see the rise of AI in a bigger way. There are a lot of quotes and sayings that could be used to give the overall idea of what might happen if AI was to become entirely self-aware, but at this point let’s just say that humans already know how to destroy each other. Adding one more method to the list isn’t exactly a victory.
