By (Prim) Preeyanun Atikarnbodee - Thailand
Watch her speech on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zs2bAtAWo3I?si=w9rhVQ1a90yfa6-U
“The rise of powerful AI will be either the best or the worst thing ever to happen to humanity. We do not yet know which” - Stephen Hawking.
Debate about artificial intelligence (AI) tends to focus on its potential dangers: algorithmic bias and discrimination, the mass destruction of jobs and even, some say, the extinction of human intelligence. As some fret about these dystopian horrors, others are focusing on the potential rewards. AI could potentially accelerate the pace of countless industries, ranging from science to manufacturing to education. So it's time to discuss whether AI poses a threat to us or whether it is the next vital stride in increasing efficiency in our lives.
What is AI?
Before exploring the various applications of AI, it is critical to have a solid understanding of what AI truly is. For the majority of AI researchers, AI is about making machines capable of mimicking capabilities that are usually associated with human intelligence, such as observing the world through vision, processing natural language or learning. Some AI researchers differentiate between so-called narrow (or weak) AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI, or strong AI). AGI is AI that would match- if not outperform- a human’s ability to make sense of the world and to develop an understanding of its environment- the kind of AI which is typically seen in films such as The Terminator or Blade Runner. However, even the most optimistic AI researchers admit that AGI programs will remain in the realm of science fiction for the foreseeable future, since its design remains an unresolved technical challenge. On the other hand, narrow AI has been around for decades, and is widely used today, in applications such as Siri, Alexa and ChatGPT. It can execute discrete tasks such as recognizing objects or people from images, translating language, or playing games. Narrow AI can execute complex calculations, but are brittle in nature- they are limited by the boundaries of their programming, and only work for the intended tasks input by the programmer.
Artificial Intelligence vs Human Intelligence
AI systems share common attributes to human intelligence: the ability to consume data, the ability to adapt and react to data in their environment, and the ability to predict the outcomes of the future. Machine Learning, a particular application of AI, enables computers to use algorithms to teach themselves based on its access to data. In the growing debate of artificial intelligence versus human intelligence, the common argument is that AI will augment human tasks, but not replace them anytime soon. However, a recent talk by Andrew McAfee, a principle research scientist at MIT and co-founder and co-director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy at the MIT Sloan School of Management, argues that machines are edging on supposedly uniquely human tasks. He stated how the pace of the advancement of AI is rising exponentially.
In 2016, AlphaGo (an AI system designed by researchers at DeepMind, a London AI lab now owned by Google) played the legendary Lee Sedol, winner of 18 world titles, famed for his creativity and widely considered to be the greatest Go player of the past decade. AlphaGo emerged as the winner, winning by 4-1. Beating a human at Go, was long thought of as one of the most challenging tasks for artificial intelligence. Therefore, AlphaGo’s win came as highly surprising, since it was widely believed that an AI strong enough to beat a professional player was at least a decade away. AlphaGo’s victory proved how AI could surpass human expertise in tasks that were once considered too complex for machines.
Will AI take over human jobs?
This example of artificial intelligence triumphing human intelligence has therefore spotlighted the question of whether or not artificial intelligence will take over human jobs. Just as with the invention of the steam engine, the locomotive, and the telephone, human tasks will be automated by AI causing a cascading impact on human jobs. Many argue that this shift will become an opportunity for humans to evolve and adapt by moving up the job ladder, to be able to focus on the more exciting aspects of innovation and creation. However, this positive outcome would only apply to a small section of society: the educated. As a result, those lacking the means for education and thus qualification for higher-skilled employment, would be at loss of opportunity. This is because, when it comes to regular and repeated routine processes, AI can perform faster and more accurately than human beings, who are subject to natural factors such as a lack of concentration, tiredness and stress. Automation’s biggest effects are likely to hit job categories such as office support, customer services, and food services employment. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, AI is expected to replace 85 million jobs worldwide by 2025. The potential of AI entrenching global inequality is a significant concern amongst economists and policymakers. With the prediction of AI reducing the relative amount of income going into low-skilled labour, inequality is expected to increase across society. Most of the debate over AI and possible strategies to mitigate unintended harms is concentrated in the West. Whilst in poor and emerging economies, far less attention and resources are being dedicated to addressing these same concerns. The unregulated spread of AI could further concentrate corporate power and deepen techno-authoritarianism, which would accelerate the corrosion of already damaged democratic institutions.
Business
Whilst the impact of AI on wage earners is concerning, businesses view its applications as highly valuable. The phrase ‘data is the new oil’ was originally coined by Clive Humby, a British mathematician and data science entrepreneur. Industry experts have started using the term ‘data economy’ to describe the importance and influence of data in today’s society. The expansion of the digital economy has made data the most valuable resource of the century. With top companies like Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft all being data driven. They have made proper use of data and have become the leading companies in the international market. However, the misconception of this tagline is that data as such is a product ready for use. Like oil, data needs to be refined, processed and turned into something useful. Therefore, the value lies in its potential. Hence, if data is the new oil, then AI is the refinery. AI can be used to process large amounts of data quickly and accurately, identifying patterns and relationships which may not be apparent to humans. Companies such as Facebook and Amazon have proven how if we have data related to customers, we can make proper decisions about expansion of business or the introduction of new goods and services. AI’s ability to effectively analyze data proves its value as a tool of accelerating marketing and business growth.
Conclusion
So what is the overall effect? AI will affect different sections of society in very different ways. Whilst business owners will benefit from the decrease of costs and the increase of profits, average wage earners will have to worry about the sustainability of their jobs and their decrease in opportunity. Wage earners will face these consequences alongside the rapid development of AI and its endless capabilities to mimic human intelligence. In essence, capital is displacing labour. AI will exacerbate income and wealth inequality by driving down wages for most people, whilst amplifying the power of the very few in this world who own and control the technologies.
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