Introduction
The last week’s readings and media sources prompted me to think more about the creation of artificial intelligence and the problems associated with it. In particular, the presented debate regarding singularity versus co-existence seemed very exciting, as I believe there are both benefits and drawbacks to both scenarios. Much about the possible uses of A.I. and its potential capacities and abilities remains uncertain, which raises many questions as to what the future of A.I. will hold for humans.
Singularity and Co-Existence
At the very foundation of the singularity debate is the eternal competition between one form of intelligence and the other. Indeed, if we consider evolution, more evolved species have outlived the previous generations, as they were more intelligent, adaptable, and could withstand certain conditions that threatened the latter. When applied to the development of A.I., the singularity theory places artificial mind as superior to the human mind.
I believe that this is a questionable assumption. First of all, given that A.I. is being developed by people, are we able to create something that is greater than our own mind? At present, we see human brain as a magnificent and complicated structure. It is widely believed that the brain is capable of a lot more than we know now. Nevertheless, our understanding of the workings of the brain is very limited.
How can we create something that is more advanced than the structure we have not fully understood yet? Another problem comes from the definition of intelligence. Since we are not entirely aware of how our brain functions and what it can do, how would we determine that the artificial mind is superior? Despite the fact that many efforts are taken to develop an A.I. with thought processes similar to the workings of our brain, the fact that we do not fully understand how our brain works makes it an impossible task. Therefore, the two structures are likely to be different in various ways. If that is the case, how do we determine one as superior and the other as outdated?
Co-existence is the other side of the coin, where artificial and human forms of intelligence live together and complement each other. To me, this scenario seems more valid than singularity. However, it is nonetheless problematic. For instance, would it be possible for the A.I. and humans to live freely and independently? Would the two structures have the same rights in the unified society?
If the humans and A.I. live independently, will one structure inevitably become a threat to the other? In my opinion, the fear of competition has been one of the characteristic features of humans throughout history. If A.I. receives full independence of human control, it will be perceived as a threat, which is why independent co-existence is an unlikely scenario. Therefore, there are two options: either the A.I. will take the lead and guide humans, or the humans will use the A.I. for their benefit. Both possibilities have their own strengths and limitations.
Control of A.I.
There are already numerous applications for the technology. Even since the machines were introduced into production and manufacturing, the quality of goods made has risen significantly, whereas the production costs have decreased. This had a positive effect on the development of many countries and industries all over the world. However, one limitation of this process was the replacement of human workers by machinery, which raised the levels of unemployment and caused many people to lose their jobs. If A.I. is used for the benefit of humans, there is no doubt that it will be utilized in production and manufacturing, and far more jobs will be lost.
As seen in the Blade Runner, another significant benefit of the use of A.I. robots is that they can perform difficult and dangerous tasks, and people will not have to risk their lives and health. For example, the A.I. robots could replace soldiers in wars, saving thousands of lives. The A.I. might also be able to make more effective strategic decisions, resulting in better outcomes. However, if the soldiers are substituted for robots, will the concept of war remain the same?
If the countries are not losing their people on the battlefield, will they be more tempted to continue warring with one another? Will wars be useful if they do not result in deaths of the men? Personally, I don’t think so. If countries begin to use A.I. robots on the battlefield, the fighting will become pointless as the only pressure on the governments to start or end the war will be economic concerns, such as the cost of robots and machinery. To me, it is more likely that people will resort to other ways of influencing others, such as terrorism, and the civilian populations will be affected.
A.I. Governance
There are also stipulations that the A.I. may be used to solve problems that we cannot address adequately. However, most of these stipulations rely on the assumptions that the A.I. will be smarter and less emotional than people. What implications would there be if we were governed by a mind led by dry reason? Returning to the subject of war and violence, the A.I. governance may be able to promote justice.
Some believe that human capacity of justice is impaired by our emotionality and empathy, whereas the A.I. can make just decisions by relying on logical reasoning. However, in this case, would A.I.’s capacity for justice mean that the structure will lack emotion and empathy? Surely, this could strengthen the justice system all over the world and offer equality to people from marginalized backgrounds; nevertheless, emotion and empathy may also act as mediators preventing people from committing wrongful or evil actions and motivating them to help one another.
If the A.I. lacks this feature, will it make decisions that harm people, even if they are logically reasonable? For instance, what are the chances that the A.I. will not decide to reduce the problem of overpopulation by killing millions of innocent people? While this is a logical solution, it is purely unethical and harmful to people. Is it possible to balance the A.I.’s capacity for making just decisions and empathic governance of people?
Multiple sources also identified the issue of communication, which caused me to think about the possible uses of A.I. in this case. It is no secret that people are frequently subject to misunderstanding and communication. Indeed, even plants’ communication abilities are more effective than ours. With the current efforts of space exploration, some say that it is possible that we will encounter extra-terrestrial forms of life. How do we communicate with other species if our communication with each other is still an issue? The A.I., on the other hand, may be more efficient in communication – again, due to its impaired emotional response. Effective management of communication, in this case, could help to reduce the possibility of conflicts and promote cooperation, which can help to advance our technologies, healthcare, and other aspects of life.
Conclusion
Overall, this course has been enlightening, as it offered an opportunity for me to engage in thoughtful work and to think about the A.I. creation in philosophical terms. It also helped me to understand some of the core problems that A.I. creation may cause, as well as the obstacles to its development, making me more aware of the different notions and debates on the subject.