Artificial Intelligence: Risk verse Reward

Introduction

Currently, the world has become technologically advanced era that has witnessed the development of cell-phones capable of carrying out computer related functions. The computer coding developments, therefore, play vital functions with regards to the growth of technology. Artificial intelligence refers to a self-correcting software capable of learning by itself. To attain this, the software is fed more significant data amounts along with intelligent algorithms known to provide the software with particular instruction manuals on how to resolve problems.

The Need for Supervision of AI Development

The need for Government Control of AI

Recently, innumerable renowned entrepreneurs and scientists have warned of urgent AI significance, in addition to how significant it is for the policy makers to address the various challenges that have raised through AI research [1]. AI requires increased degrees of government control given that it can be wrongly used as a weapon when it lands in the wrong hands. AI is also capable of crippling the economies through hacking of the governments, banks and power grids. Nevertheless, AI may also be employed in the protection of the IoT as well as in the attainment of the technological revolution and advancements by enabling novel discoveries in the field of medicine and also leading to the attainment of immortality.

Though the interaction between humans and robots may seem intriguing, it remains a key challenge given the lack of knowledge and comprehension of the probable threats that such technologies may harbor.

Probable Dangers of AI

Over the last three years, the advancements in AI technology has improved, and this is considered as an indication that AI will be around for long. Nevertheless, an increase in the number of warnings relating to the probable dangers of AI technology has also been observed.  Renowned organizations within the scientific and commercial industries have shown increased concerns with regards to the possibilities of AI making humans superfluous [2]. For instance, Elon Musk has described AI as being increasingly dangerous and has also shared worries on the dearth of effective government control and oversight with regards to firms that build AI. Further, Elon has also made several speeches to the governors of the U.S. by observing that AI remains to be a vital existential threat to human civilization and that humans have not fully understood that. Humans have built technologies that are bound to be more intelligent than humans and is not capable of forgetting. It is worth noting that AI, which has often been presented in the form of movies, textbooks, and normal human interactions, is prone to be turned into a digital memory that is capable of being stored in large data hard drives. The apprehensions expressed in this regard can only be articulated through the say that one cannot put back the toothpaste into the tube once it is out. Many questions regarding the control that AI engineers are prone to exercise over the technologies and the probable irreparable changes it will bring to the society remain unanswered.

Advantages of AI

The primary driving force behind AI development is cybersecurity, which is currently a field of critical focus to most organizations globally. It was projected that for the leading organizations, the probability of growth in the market as a result of the use of AI in cyber security would exceed $2.3bn in the year 2017. It has also been predicted that strong revenue growth will be realized until 2027 [3]. Given the frequency of cyber-attacks, security and how to protect personal information has turned out as a critical subject for AI engineers. Personal information that includes credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other information, which may be utilized in locating individuals are being stolen by hackers from organizations thereby making the companies unsafe for one to trust them with either money or other personal information. Consequently, AI should be employed for the safeguarding of individual information from such threats and is a welcomed change.

Ethical Issues on AI Use

AI possibilities are endless given the observation that the technologies in almost all markets and industries including agriculture, medical, and marketing are prone to gain in diverse ways. AI is also considered as a feature that is mind-blowing as it exhibits the actual capabilities of humans. Though the Manhattan project enabled the United States to create atomic bombs that altered the globe’s military history, at present, the US military is employing AI in the development of robotic weaponry for future use. However, leads to the question of ethics in AI. Thus, is it ethical for a nation to utilize AI in either unmanned devices or in killing the enemies? The United States has been involved in unmanned missions that make use of UAVs and unmanned aircraft in various parts of Asia, and this is considered as a reason for the failure to cover AI in regular news bulletins.

Many individuals have found it challenging to understand the AI technology used in war given its failure to conform to the public ethics of the United States. Further, the US military has also maintained that they intend to make use of AI and unmanned vehicles in delivering aid and supplies to the troops in placed regarded as high risk. As a critical use of the AI, it is anticipated that such uses will ensure that the troops are safe and are nor in the arms way. As such, the Department of Defense (DOD) has been observed to be the force that underlies the development of different AI applications for a broader array of functions. Currently, AI research is being carried in the fields that include intelligence gathering and assessment, cyberspace operations, logistics, control, and command, in addition to a range of autonomous military vehicles. Also, the AI applications are now playing roles in various military operations in both Syria and Iraq [4].

Conclusion

            The advancement in technology fields often leads to the question of what the future holds for humanity. However, the AI seems to have provided answers to this vital question as it is seen as the most significant development as from the time the internet and computer were developed. One is unable to fathom what the major AI engineering firms are developing; however, similar to the Manhattan project, it is projected that significant developments will be achieved through AI. Still, it is recommended that the government should look into concerns raised by Elon Musk given that any chance of the AI being used as weapons will result in significant losses globally. As such, this is a discussion that AI engineers should have and also share the various ways through which they intend to handle such concerns. AI’s future remains to be a mystery and is only comparable to a blockbuster movie plot.