Artificial Intelligence: A Gift or a Burden?

From the beginning of existence, it has been human nature to adapt, evolve, and advance; however, through our new advancements, we're beginning to evolve beyond human intelligence. As we evolve, our technology evolves with us, and soon beyond us. This evolutionary stream of advancement has paved the way for a new world, through an idea otherwise known as Artificial Intelligence. 

    

Artificial Intelligence is a superior form of technology that uses algorithmic information to produce a future predictability result. In other words, this technology uses a complex system of data in order to predict the future and respond based on that prediction.

"AI" has begun to advance far beyond the comprehension of the human brain. This new prediction system allows the technology to constantly grow without the factors of human error clouding precise calculations. 

In 2016, AI surfaced in South Korea in the form of "AlphaGo", a computerized game of Go (a very complex game oriented to promote discipline, concentration, and balance) created to predict and determine a winning result beyond human comprehension. This concept was tested in a game against Lee Sedoel, a top Go player, who only beat the computer in one out of four games played. This game changed the world, showing the tech "big dogs" that Artificial Intelligence was the future. One move beyond human comprehension, turned out to be a brilliant decision that led to AlphaGo's victory. 

Since this game, the world of AI has improved astronomically, allowing for automation improvements beyond anything we could have ever imagined. Advanced Technology such as self-driving cars, robotic assembly lines, and facial recognition are all made possible by Artificial Intelligence. 

However beyond the exciting nature of the benefits of AI, it is absolutely essential to consider and evaluate the detriments of this technology as well. And unfortunately, there are several factors of AI that are counterproductive to our working society. 

For one, AI has made major changes in the world of manual labor and assembly lines. Robotic engineering paired with AI algorithms created a new system of computerized warehouses, shifting every component of manufacturing robotic. The convenience of this new system allowed for a more efficient solution to the age old problem of supply and demand. A computerized system run by robots can complete a job in half the time and double the proficiency of any human, making this system far more appealing. 

The world of AI in automation clears the need of any human component beyond programming. Which at a glance, logistically clears up the possibility for human error; however, beyond this, hundreds of thousands of blue collar workers are laid off as a result. 

In Michigan, these automations have taken over the need for any manual labor jobs, which the majority of this population held. This drastic change led to the increased homeless rate, resulting in the average income of the area being only 16,000 dollars annually. This contributes to the National trend of production in comparison to income as robotic automation creates an exponential increase in productivity, but a major falling off in income as Americans lose out to computers. 

Silicon Valley engineers rationalize these deficits, saying that instead of taking away jobs, AI is creating the need for more. They say “there is now a bigger need for truck drivers or quality inspection specialists. There is a less of a need for manual labor jobs, but a higher need for jobs on the other side.” But in reality, these new systems lead to a widespread job loss across the nation. 

The ultimate complication to this technological takeover is the overall lack of economic stability it creates. Silicon Valley engineers and geniuses create the technology needed to replace low class jobs, low class citizens get laid off, middle class citizens either learn to program and catch up, or fall victim to the situation. This cycle allows for the rich to continue to get richer and the poor to get poorer, stretching the economic gap of the nation and completely diminishing the concept of a “middle class”. 

The second component to the detriments of AI is the lack of privacy they allow for. As discussed earlier, Artificial Intelligence allows for the constant collecting and learning of data to better predict future probabilities. These predictors are now being used to target average individuals worldwide. 

Here’s where the problem with that data arises, it allows the Goliaths of Silicon Valley to use every source of information they have on you and sell it hundreds of times over. This is called, “Data Mining” and it is more prevalent than people truly realize. It is the main source of income for social networks as they will sell this data to marketing companies in order to accurately cater ads to the viewer and their interests. AI uses your previous searches, clicks, and likes in order to maximize the objective function… make more money.

Now in the grand scheme of the planet, this seems to be a minor issue. So what if Google is using my likes to predict what jacket I want to buy? It doesn’t hurt anyone to target ads based on past preferences. 
In theory, this is true, it is a relatively minor objective that in reality, we are probably all very aware of. When our Tok Tok feeds are perfectly catered to our likes and dislikes, and our Instagram pages show us recommended accounts, we don’t seem to mind this system. Yet, the data that is being sold is not for the sole purpose of finding things we like and dislike. In fact it stems much farther than that. 

AI such as Google, Alexa, Siri, and even Ring allow for the constant surveillance of the world. Taking private human experiences and using them to predict the future actions of any individual. These predictions can be as extreme as predicting you are going to commit a crime before you have even done it. 
Eric Schmidt at Google even says “We know where you are… with your permission, we know where you’ve been… with your permission, we know what you are thinking.” In fact, we are giving them our permission every single time we carelessly sign terms and conditions or accept cookies on a website. Yet, here we are unaware of the consequences that come with social medias and networks using us. 

These big companies like Google, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube etc. don’t accept regulations on the data that they collect and harvest because they can capitalize on the constant influx of income as a result. Until 2020, there were absolutely zero federal guidelines on the world of AI, until lawyer, Mactaggart, proposed a Bill reeling in the unchecked creators. 

This bill allowed for users to have third party opt outs, which gave users the option to stop these platforms from selling their data at the click of a button. The bill passed unanimously, and yet the average American still has no idea such a button exists. Scariest of all, with all the “Goliaths of Silicon Valley” being affected by this Bill, Microsoft was the only company to accept regulation and take an ethical approach to their organization. 

If we don’t limit this technology immediately, we are going to be at risk of becoming a Surveillance State. China, the leading surveillance country in the world, has AI cameras on every street corner, constantly watching over it’s citizens. This technology is so advanced that it can identify an individual simply on their gait. Of course, this paired with the predictability technology paves the way for unlawful arrests and discriminatory type casting. 

Instead of creating the need for a Democratic Government like some had hoped, this technology only greatened the Authoritarian nature of China’s Government. Which comes at a cost when China is the leader of the world of AI. With America slowly approaching, many countries are going to be at a cross-roads of which Tech Sector they want to buy into. China and America will be antagonistic and the world will choose which side they will support. 

The stakes of this issue are at the highest they have ever been, and yet we stay silent on the issue. We must recognize the potential for consequences from AI and combat it in a way that creates an Artificial World of good that does not take advantage of human interaction and privacy. 
Discipline, Concentration, Balance. The three components of Go, which began the world of AI. Silicone Valley Goliaths must have discipline to self-regulate. Americans must have concentration to stay alert to the violations of rights the nation has began to create. And the world must find a balance between adapting and being ethical.