As AI grows more sophisticated and widespread, the voices warning against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence grow louder.
The Dark Side of AI Innovation
The renowned computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “Godfather of AI,” has expressed concerns about the dangers of AI, even regretting his life’s work.
He isn’t alone in his worries. Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, along with over 1,000 other tech leaders, urged in a 2023 open letter to put a pause on large AI experiments, citing that the technology can “pose profound risks to society and humanity.”
The increasing automation of certain jobs, biased algorithms, and autonomous weapons that operate without human oversight are just a few of the many unease-inducing aspects of AI.
Lack of Transparency in AI Decision-Making
AI and deep learning models can be difficult to understand, even for those who work directly with the technology.
This leads to a lack of transparency for how and why AI comes to its conclusions, creating a lack of explanation for what data AI algorithms use, or why they may make biased or unsafe decisions.
Former employees of OpenAI and Google DeepMind have accused both companies of concealing the potential dangers of their AI tools.
AI-powered job automation is a pressing concern as the technology is adopted in industries like marketing, manufacturing, and healthcare.
By 2030, tasks that account for up to 30% of hours currently being worked in the U.S. economy could be automated — with Black and Hispanic employees left especially vulnerable to the change.
Social Manipulation Through AI Algorithms
Social manipulation also stands as a danger of artificial intelligence.
This fear has become a reality as politicians rely on platforms to promote their viewpoints, with one example being Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., wielding a TikTok troll army to capture the votes of younger Filipinos during the Philippines’ 2022 election.
Online media and news have become even murkier in light of AI-generated images and videos, AI voice changers, as well as deepfakes infiltrating political and social spheres.
These technologies make it easy to create realistic photos, videos, and audio clips or replace the image of one figure with another in an existing picture or video.
Social Surveillance with AI Technology
In addition to its more existential threat, futurist Martin Ford is focused on the way AI will adversely affect privacy and security.
A prime example is China’s use of facial recognition technology in offices, schools, and other venues.
Besides tracking a person’s movements, the Chinese government may be able to gather enough data to monitor a person’s activities, relationships, and political views.
Biases in AI Development and Training Data
Various forms of AI bias are detrimental too.
Speaking to the New York Times, Princeton computer science professor Olga Russakovsky said AI bias goes well beyond gender and race.
In addition to data and algorithmic bias, AI is developed by humans — and humans are inherently biased.
Socioeconomic Inequality as a Result of AI
If companies refuse to acknowledge the inherent biases baked into AI algorithms, they may compromise their DEI initiatives through AI-powered recruiting.
The idea that AI can measure the traits of a candidate through facial and voice analyses is still tainted by racial biases, reproducing the same discriminatory hiring practices businesses claim to be eliminating.
Weakening Ethics and Goodwill Because of AI
Along with technologists, journalists, and political figures, even religious leaders are sounding the alarm on AI’s potential pitfalls.
In a 2023 Vatican meeting and in his message for the 2024 World Day of Peace, Pope Francis called for nations to create and adopt a binding international treaty that regulates the development and use of AI.
Autonomous Weapons Powered by AI
As is too often the case, technological advancements have been harnessed for warfare.
When it comes to AI, some are keen to do something about it before it’s too late: In a 2016 open letter, over 30,000 individuals, including AI and robotics researchers, pushed back against the investment in AI-fueled autonomous weapons.
Financial Crises Brought About by AI Algorithms
The financial industry has become more receptive to AI technology’s involvement in everyday finance and trading processes.
As a result, algorithmic trading could be responsible for our next major financial crisis in the markets.
Loss of Human Influence and Functioning
An overreliance on AI technology could result in the loss of human influence — and a lack of human functioning — in some parts of society.
Using AI in healthcare could result in reduced human empathy and reasoning, for instance.
Uncontrollable Self-Aware AI
There also comes a worry that AI will progress in intelligence so rapidly that it will become sentient, and act beyond humans’ control— possibly in a malicious manner.
Increased Criminal Activity
As AI technology has become more accessible, the number of people using it for criminal activity has risen.
Online predators can now generate images of children, making it difficult for law enforcement to determine actual cases of child abuse.
Broader Economic and Political Instability
Overinvesting in a specific material or sector can put economies in a precarious position.
Like steel, AI could run the risk of drawing so much attention and financial resources that governments fail to develop other technologies and industries.
Mitigating the Risks of AI
To get the most out of this promising technology, though, some argue that plenty of regulation is necessary.
“There’s a serious danger that we’ll get [AI systems] smarter than us fairly soon and that these things might get bad motives and take control,” Hinton told NPR.
Developing legal regulations, establishing organizational AI standards and discussions, and guiding tech with humanities perspectives are just a few ways to mitigate the risks of AI.
As AI continues to develop, it’s essential to have open discussions about its potential dangers and work towards responsible development.
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