Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely misunderstood and still too rudimentary for us to be worrying. But it is not soon to contemplate the ethical implications of Intelligent Machines (ML) and Systems (IoT) AI has the potential to be as transformative as the advent of electricity to the world by transforming entire aspects of dealing and interacting with data which eventually would reduce human interphase on a mega scale. There will be more machines connected with machines than human interactions at the organizational level.
- Is this only a hype?
- Far from reality?
- Is the phrase AI is it a misnomer?
- Since we know that human intelligence and the spirit have much more influence than the Bits and Bytes?
- Can human consciousness be uploaded to a cloud or duplicated with computer algorithms?
There are predictions that AI will enable machines to have human-like feelings and emotions. Could this be possible can we imagine a situation where acute human emotions such as love-hate and compassion can be coded and enacted by robots? But we as human beings are gullible after all. Can you believe that more than 1 million humans have asked their Alexas to marry them in 2017 alone (Amazon)?
Today already AI systems are up to do their best to replicate the functions of human beings in their brain functions although the scale of emulations is very limited despite deep learning techniques. Herein lies the problem though an AI system is as good as the quality and content of the data it receives it can interpret within the confines of available context. The computer does not understand what it has analyzed so it is unable to apply its analysis to other scenarios since it cannot distinguish between causation and correlation.
AI however works very well in performing tasks that match patterns it is conversant with in the form and pattern of data fed to its systems to obtain objective outcomes. It cannot be subjective to situations outside the coded patterns. It can include playing chess driving a car and identifying cancer lesions in a mammogram perhaps. These systems can be incredibly helpful and more accurate than human investigations since there are many but limited moves and patterns in the tasks to be handled. Of course, with more accurate data the systems will keep on improving.
Although an AI machine could do a better job than a radiologist in spotting cancer it will not be able to replicate the wisdom and the perspectives of a radiologist. It won’t be able to empathize with a patient in the way a doctor can do. This is where an AI presents a risky situation which we need to worry about since AI operates on objective measurements and judgements. Such outcomes at times could be scary and influence the reflective responses and depressive, scary reactions in the patients and his/her relatives and highly susceptible to human biases.
Issues such as granting a loan and admitting a student to a college or university or keeping the parent away from its parents/children/siblings for likely impacts purely based on objective investigative interventions through Al-enabled equipment which could at times be detrimental to someone’s life.
AI throws up many ethical dilemmas around as to how we use the technology. It has already proven its utility in designing and using machines to kill enemies on the battlefield with drones that can even recognize faces and provide attack commands to the controls. China is already using AI to allocate codes—social credits to a set of people based on behaviors. In the US the Al-enabled equipment can differentiate and identify people from Whites to African Americans and provide selective data for evaluation of population intensity propensity, etc. AI Machines enable gender-based segregation for allocations of social benefits based on gender inequality.
The complex situations created by social media apps such as Fb, and YouTube are less said about is better creating filter bubbles and hotbeds of misinformation and fakes. Technology is opening up new frontiers but it is also presenting new challenges the world must confront/ More than ever before we need to exercise wisdom on all aspects of new technologies from design to deployment with fake news and deep fakes there are too many confusing signals around facts which make the role of a commoner or stakeholder in the analyses and dissemination of information very challenging.
The Fragile Line Between Truth and Technology
It is very difficult to differentiate between truth and opinions, preferences, and at times blatant lies. Privacy has become more ephemeral and almost unaffordable sophisticated data mining and facial recognition tools and techniques enabled through AI are the very threats to privacy and personal data secrecy and security. We are already witnessing the identification and location of targets for surgical strikes.
Mind well Alexa and SIRI are constantly accessing our interactions and conversations for commercial exploitations not only for present generations but also for future generations yet to arrive this may help authorities in deciding the policies and prices but fosters discrepancy in the access and exploitation during the digital world. AI has given rise to technologies that help humans and animals to live longer and healthier free of major genetic disorders but will these things ensure a better quality of life? Living for say more than 100 years does not guarantee a more meaningful and joyful life. Technology alone does not enable a flourishing and meaningful life even though today more than ever before people are connected across the globe through social media loneliness is one single pervasive ghost and has reached epidemic proportions.
Human Touch in an AI-Driven World
Technology cannot enable meaningful and deeper connections that promote empathy and kindness. Providing robot-assisted living on the other hand is precipitating suicidal tendencies amongst ageing societies. Similarly, robot-assisted teaching tools are deprived of personal touch between the teacher and the taught resulting in diminished creative thinking and critical thinking more focused on how to get the degrees enabling eligibility for degrees without debates and discussions. One’s personality including personal hygiene and discipline, including attitudes and interpersonal behaviors often takes the back seat. We are eager to design and develop machines that closely resemble human beings and paradoxically treat human beings more as machines. What does it mean to be a human in the AI age? How should humans relate to machines?
The Machines do not seek the kind of emotional and relational reciprocities that humans and animals do. Will AI be intended to shape human relational interactions and emotions? Humans are more used to facing challenges and struggle to achieve acceptance in mutual interactions. The concept of the Internet of Bodies (Humans/Animals) lob as similar to IoT with a chip implanted in human bodies is the current buzzword. With a revamped way of life with telepresence, remote intimacy technologies, or tolimidones. Technology serves the best when it helps to do things that humans aren’t capable of but it might be catastrophic if it starts replacing human beings in the most personal and empathetic relationships.
Ethical Considerations
Generationally we have had the luxury of learning by mistakes and course corrections. However, when mistakes are likely to influence a huge number of members of society the cost of learning becomes prohibitive in the age of rapid changes. Technology is changing exponentially at much higher speeds which while helping us avoid mistakes may also impede the sustainability of the planet and space.
The fossil fuel story, the use of plastics, and now the batteries may land us in major environmental issues in the future hence it may be prudent to embed self-regulatory corrective (warning systems) to avoid retreating our steps for sustainability and survival as we progress. Rather than focusing heavily on super intelligence we need to focus on ethical issues about how we should be using these technologies and the essential does and do not.
Final Words
Remembering that AI is a tool and an enabler rather than a replacement is crucial as we imagine a future in which it plays a significant role in our professional lives. It is crucial. It is possible to create a symbiotic relationship that makes use of the best aspects of both humans and AI by working together.
Keeping this in mind, we can design a future where technology is used to advance human potential, advance inclusivity, facilitate lifelong learning, encourage innovation, and contribute to sustainable development. increase. In the end, a successful collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence—rather than a sole on AI—will determine the future of work.
AI cannot intuitively understand and create emotional connections, qualities that come naturally to humans. There has been a lot of discussion and ongoing research on how to improve AI’s emotional intelligence to make it better at mimicking human insight. Scientists and developers are working hard to bridge this gap, but whether they will succeed remains to be seen. Only time will tell if AI can truly develop these human-like qualities.