Demystifying dependence on artificial intelligence.
Computers have come from the oblivion and taken over the attention in our lives, fitting in perfectly in our daily lives. These gadgets could range from simple cell phones to sophisticated robots that run vital operations in industries. As they rise in popularity and usage, a sector of critics has begun questioning our level of dependence on computers. They argue that computers will generally wipe out the importance of human beings on planet earth. One such opinion maker is Nicholas Carr, a celebrated writer on technology and humanity whose article in the Guardian shall be exhausted in this article. It is essential to understand the age of computers and the effects of overdependence on technology by humans, to realize that humans can rise sharply in the computer age by limiting excessive dependence.
The biggest concern in the field of computer technology is artificial intelligence that is slowly becoming the rubberstamp of computer language. Artificial intelligence (AI), also referred to as machine intelligence is the intelligence of manmade machines away from human intelligence. It is the formatting of devices to perceive their environment and make suitable functional adjustments to achieve their intended function (Chowdhury & Sadek, 2012). For example, a machine may sense the increase of temperature in a car and decide to turn on the air conditioner. With continued technological advancement, the challenge for machines to become more intelligent is increasing as tasks that were considered AI in the recent past are now seen as normal functioning. This means machines are made to behave more and more like human beings and perform human-specific tasks. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
According to Carr (n.d.), the fundamental question in this computer age is the necessity of humans in the near future and how humans will cope with these changes. Computer coordinated devices are taking over key functions in our lives, and we can do little to resist it. In professional fields of banking, medicine, architecture, design and law, computer software has been integrated so deeply and would soon render redundant a large population of workers. As commuters continue taking up more important roles in our daily lives and careers, we should understand that they are not taking a step backwards any time soon, and we should brace ourselves for the radical change. Yet man being the most intelligent of all creatures maintains a stable edge that even the sharpest of technologies cannot reach. These are in the form of the flexibility of thought, intuition, common sense and adaptability.
When leading technology company google built the prototype for its car called Prius that could drive itself through traffic, they were so sure that it was going to hit the market by 2020. Vividly, this was fantasy on their side as it was determined that robotic cars were disturbed by simple inconsistencies in the roads such as traffic officers giving directions and poor roads that human beings navigated easily. Carr opines that even if these matters are resolved, a human hand will still be needed to steer things. This is noticeable in the aviation industry that uses autopilot but relies on human pilots to handle situations that arise out of record.
In the field of medicine, Carr (n.d.) writes, adventure into computerized systems have proved to inflate medical costs immensely, such as to drive people away from the technologies. According to Dr Atul Gawande, the intuition and expert sharpness of a medical officer can’t be replaced by a machine. In the education sector, the advent of online classes was seen as the end of physical universities. However, it has been proved that internet learning cannot replace the physical inspiration that a lecturer provides to his or her student. As elaborated by Hector Lévesque, a computer scientist, computers can be formatted to perform specific tasks making them useless outside their area of expertise as opposed to humans. Computers stick to the confines of their coding.
Nicholas Carr explains that what makes the core of human intelligence is the ability to interpret observation into sensible insight that can be used to solve problems (Carr, n.d.). This is different from running codes through a wire. The actual competition that computers offer to human beings is the issue of perception of computers. Most people think that computers are so intelligent that they should be depended on completely. Most people now want to throw simple jobs at computer software and sit back. Machine designers concentrate on giving computers a lot to do, leaving human beings with the simplest of jobs in the setup, that of pressing buttons. This has had the effect of making even the most skilled of workmen turning to computers hence losing vital skill and experience.
Nicholas Carr is an accomplished American writer whose book, The Shallows: what the internet is doing to our brains, was the Pulitzer’s prize finalist and New York Times bestseller. Apart from this masterpiece that was reproduced in over 25 languages, he has written many more bestsellers. The professor of sociology is also a popular and respected writer for several magazines and newspapers. He has served as an executive editor for Harvard Business Review and on the advisory board of Encyclopedia Britannica. The decorated professor holds a masters I English and American literature from Harvard University.
The most striking argument by Carr is the ingenuity of the human brain that is beyond computer understanding. It is important to note that computers lack certain basic human traits, such as emotions and intuition. Jobs that require an emotional touch shall then be out of the scope of robots. Patients feel better with a doctor due to the emotional connection that they form in the journey to recovery. As Osipov & Ulimova (2013) put it, a computer takes a definite pattern of thought to conclude whereas a human could use lesser time relying on experience and intuition. This is enough reason to notice that humans should reduce their dependence on computers since they lack the fundamental skills necessary for successful human interactions.
Another compelling point of view presented by Carr is the flop of the hyped computerized system of education. Most learning institutions are indeed accepting this format. However, it is auxiliary to physical learning. It is majorly used as a contingency plan for students who cannot access the physical location. Howard (2010) stated that the expounded problem of unauthentic online learning resources would also continue bedevilling the online process, limiting dependency on technology and relegating it to second place. Finally, the social advantages experienced by physical learning surpass online studying. Attending school in person has proved to equip students with essential skills for the job market that can’t be gained online. This explains the paltry 12.5 per cent of exclusive online student enrollment from America in the last half a decade.
The final point of argument where Carr discusses the failures of artificial intelligence in the medical world is intriguing. AI has been deployed in this field to help in tests, diagnosis, dosage and monitoring. As we acknowledge the fundamental contribution of machines to this field, we should not forget that they have been culprits of misdiagnosis since they operate within fixed codes and formats (Specter,2010). This, in itself, is a danger to humanity. On another angle, healing is as psychological as it is physical. The soft skills of a human medic cannot be substituted for the cold metallic form of robotic doctors. Our mentally should shift quickly to appreciating the importance of humanity and the vanity of these bots.
I agree with Carr’s opinion that trying to encourage dependence on computers will cause a loss of important skill while the world might not be completely mechanized. In my view, People should understand that technological advance begins with humans and ends with them. We will still require skills to do the same jobs once we realize that our touch is unmatched by machines. People should also accept machines as able helpers, not substitutes for their intelligence. This argument sums up the position that we should cut on over-reliance on technology since humans are here to stay.
Readers should take home the fact that computers are manmade and that we can’t take them beyond our understanding. This means even the most sophisticated of machines will still require human supervision. It is therefore essential to maintain our grip on essential skills in the overhyped onslaught of artificial intelligence. Engineers should also design machines with a balance of the workload to ensure participation of both man and machine in making better product and services. The future is human, embrace it.
References.
Specter, M. (2010). A deadly misdiagnosis. New Yorker, 15, 48-53.
Howard, C. (2010). Unresolved Obstacles to the Credibility of Online Degrees. eLearn, 2010(2), 5.
Osipov, S. S., & Ulimova, N. V. (2013). ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AI. SCIENCE AND WORLD, 77.
Carr, N. Are we becoming too reliant on computers? The Guardian, 17, 15.