Super Intelligence and AI: Boon or Bane?

Super Intelligence and AI: Boon or Bane?

Science and technology have now reached a level of evolution where computers can recreate human level intelligence. One of the most widely anticipated scientific developments of our time, artificial intelligence or “super intelligence” has taken the world by storm. But renowned scientist Stephen Hawking has cautioned that whether artificial intelligence will be our greatest benefit or our biggest downfall remains a question.

The noted scientist also argued“ when it eventually does occur, it’s likely to be either the best or worst thing ever to happen to humanity, so there’s huge value in getting it right.” Dire predictions that AI may spell the end of the human race are not few and far between. Tesla founder Elon Musk has also questioned the benefits of super intelligence, in opposition to Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in human history, but could also be the last. He has made his worry clearer now. Hawking’s case is that AI may one day take off on its own, redesign itself and replicate at a fast pace and supersede the human race, whose biological evolution cannot keep pace with it. US technologist Elon Musk said that AI might turn out to be a demon which could pose the biggest existential threat to the human race. Are these a sign of the times to come? Is AI a boon or a bane? Let's see in this group discussion, what the future holds for us.

Boon

1. Marrying Creativity With Technology

At the most basic level, AI is a robotic machine that thinks creativity and intelligently and acts autonomously. This has many benefits rather than a unidimensional technology that cannot think or work on its own. The benefits of AI far exceed the apprehensions.

2. Meeting Our Daily Needs

Though we don't realise it, we are already surrounded by Siri, Alexa and GPS or face detection, which are all applications of AI. Without super intelligence, our lives would be tough to manage. Even the most basic smartphone uses AI. Super intelligence forms the cornerstone of the digital revolution and so many aspects of life are simpler thanks to this marvellous technology.

3. Safety Factor

Presently and in the future as well, AI has a world of applications. Fields like mining or defence can be hazardous to human health, leading to disease or injury. Using drones or robots prevents this from happening.

4. Error-Free

AI is error-free. Making room for human error is one of the biggest stumbling blocks of industries, innovations and science and technological developments. Getting the precision only a robot is capable of has its advantages.

5. Stepping into Space

Solving problems which no man can, AI is a boon to the human race. Super intelligence can even facilitate space exploration and literally go where humans cannot.

6. Learning From Experience

AI systems also learn based on usage and experience. How many humans can replicate the same level of success? AI as super intelligence is a boon in so many ways. Its rich experiential learning is another positive aspect.

Bane

1. Robots Acquiring Power

Science fiction and futuristic films have often projected scenarios of robots acquiring the power to challenge their human creators. HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey and the cyborg assassin in the Terminator are relegated to products of imagination. But today's imagination could well be tomorrow's reality.

2. A Question of Ethics

Ethical robots would be the need of the hour, given the value systems and accountability critical for its efficient functioning. But how can a robot be taught human values? Consider Data in Star Trek, who could not cry! Dabbling in AI can have serious ethical complications, especially if artificial intelligence exceeds human.

3. Used by Criminals

“The One-Hundred Year Study of Artificial Intelligence,” hosted by Stanford University and led by Microsoft Research director Dr. Eric Horvitz, is set to monitor AI advances in key areas including key opportunities, democracy and freedom, law, criminal uses, human-machine collaboration, autonomy, and loss of control. Therefore, crime is one grey area where AI's role remains unexplored. Criminals could use robots and super intelligence, much like hacking drones to cause serious damage to nations and citizens.

4. Seizing Our Jobs

AI could take our jobs and source of sustenance. As machines and robots grow sophisticated, non managerial positions and labour intensive tasks are especially under threat.

Robots are not taking jobs, they are merely redefining them. AI requires recognition of patterns of data in a context and so humans remain essential to the process. For example, can Siri Google anything without being asked first? Humans supply inputs to ensure AI produces correct outputs.

But though we’re a long way from building machines that are smarter than humans, innovation and time could conquer all.

From answering queries to predicting future of your love life, to beating chess grandmasters, a lot is already being said and written about AI. Movies depicting the technology like Matrix are world famous. Destructive tools like 3D printed weapons already exist for sale in reality, though. Killer drones could be next, forcing a new kind of accounting with the technological genie. Therefore, AI norms and protocols are essential because though machines hold every human wish as a command, not all humans have the rationality to use robots for right and ethical practices.