Is Artificial Intelligence making us less human?

“If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve
more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it
was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.” – Jacques Ellul

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the world around us. In just a few years, AI has
gone from being a science fiction concept to a reality that is impacting our lives in every
way. From self-driving cars to medical diagnosis, AI is being used to solve some of the world’s
most pressing problems.

But while AI has the potential to do great good, it also has the potential to be misused. That’s
why it’s important that we start thinking about how we can use AI responsibly. We need to make
sure that AI is used to benefit all of humanity, not just a select few.

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In this editorial, I will explore the potential benefits and risks of AI. I will also discuss some of the
ways that we can ensure that AI is used responsibly.

Unknowable AIThe term “unknowable AI” refers to artificial intelligence that is so complex that its
decision-making process is opaque to humans. This means that we cannot understand why the
AI made a particular decision, even if we have access to all of the data that the AI used to make
the decision

Biased AIIt is a phenomenon that occurs when an AI algorithm produces results that are systematically
prejudiced due to erroneous assumptions in the machine learning (ML) process.

•Lending algorithms that are trained on data that does not account for factors such as income
inequality or discrimination may be more likely to deny loans to people from marginalized
groups. For example, a study by the ‘National Council of Applied Economic Research’ found that
women were more likely to be rejected for loans than men, even when they had similar credit
scores.

•Facial recognition algorithms that are trained on datasets that are not representative of the
Indian population may be more likely to misidentify people from marginalized groups. For
example, a study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras found that a facial recognition
algorithm was more likely to misidentify women and people from lower castes.
Inappropriate AI

It refers to the use of AI in a way that is harmful, offensive, or unethical. Example,

•Use of AI for surveillance and social control- In recent years, there has been an increase in the
use of AI-powered surveillance systems in India. These systems have been used to track and
monitor citizens, and have raised concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

•Spread of misinformation and hate speech. AI-powered social media platforms have been used
to spread misinformation and hate speech. For example, in 2022, a study by the University of
Oxford found that AI-powered bots were responsible for spreading a significant amount of
misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic on Twitter.

Extreme need of “Responsible AI with CONTEXT!”

Creators of artificial intelligence and those that implement systems that rely on AI, have a duty
to guide how they’re developed and deployed, and we have a responsibility to do it in a way that
aligns with our social values.

•Using AI to improve fairness and inclusion- For example, an AI-powered recruiting tool could be
used to identify and remove unconscious bias from the hiring process.
•Making AI systems transparent and explainable. This means being able to understand how an
AI system makes its decisions, so that we can be confident that it is not discriminating against or
unfairly impacting certain groups of people.
•Protecting privacy and security-AI systems should be designed to protect the privacy of the
data they use, and to be secure from cyberattacks.
•Accountability and oversight-There should be clear rules and procedures for how AI systems
are developed, used, and monitored, so that we can hold those responsible for them
accountable.

AI has the potential to make humans more productive in a few ways. AI can be used to
automate tasks that are currently done by humans, which could free up time for humans to
focus on more creative and strategic tasks. This could lead to an increase in overall productivity,
as humans would be able to focus on the tasks that they are best at.

Second, AI can be used to provide real-time feedback to employees, which could help them to
improve their performance. For example, AI could be used to track employee productivity and
provide feedback on how they can improve. This could lead to an increase in productivity, as
employees would be able to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance over time.

Third, AI can be used to create new and innovative products and services, which could lead to
economic growth. For example, AI could be used to develop new medical treatments, create
new financial products, or develop new ways to deliver goods and services. This could lead to
an increase in productivity, as new products and services would create new jobs and generate
new economic activity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) also has the potential to make humans less productive in a few ways.
•AI can automate many tasks that are currently done by humans, which could lead to job losses.
This could lead to a decrease in overall productivity, as fewer people would be working.
•AI can be used to micro-manage employees, which could lead to stress and decreased
productivity. For example, AI could be used to track employee productivity in real time, and
managers could use this data to constantly monitor and make changes to employee behavior.
This could lead to employees feeling stressed and under pressure, which could lead to
decreased productivity.
•AI can be used to create addictive and distracting technologies, which could lead to
procrastination and decreased productivity. For example, AI could be used to create
personalized news feeds that are tailored to each individual’s interests. This could lead to
people spending more time scrolling through their news feeds and less time working.
•AI systems are trained on data, and if that data is biased, the AI system will be biased as well.
This could lead to AI systems making decisions that are unfair or discriminatory. For example,
an AI system that is trained on data that shows that men are more likely to be successful in the
workplace could end up discriminating against women in hiring decisions.
•Privacy concerns: AI systems collect a lot of data about people, which raises privacy concerns.
This data could be used to track people’s movements, monitor their online activity, or even
predict their future behavior.
•Weaponization: AI could be used to develop autonomous weapons that could kill without
human intervention. This could lead to a new arms race, as countries compete to develop the
most powerful and sophisticated autonomous weapons. This could also lead to the use of
autonomous weapons in warfare, which could result in civilian casualties.
•Loss of control: As AI systems become more sophisticated, they may become more difficult for
humans to control. This could lead to a situation where AI systems are making decisions that
have a significant impact on the world, but humans are not able to understand or control those
decisions. This could lead to a loss of human agency and autonomy.

These are just some of the ways in which AI could be unethical and a threat to humanity. It is
important to be aware of these risks and to take steps to ensure that AI is used for good and not
for evil.

We need to ensure that AI is used for the benefit of humanity. They should be binding on all
countries, regardless of their size or power.
These are few ways-

Establish independent oversight bodies to monitor the development and use of AI. These
bodies should be responsible for ensuring that AI systems are developed and used in
accordance with ethical guidelines and international agreements. They should have the power
to investigate and sanction companies and individuals who violate these guidelines.

Educate the public about the potential risks and benefits of AI. This will help people to
understand the importance of using AI ethically and to demand that governments and
businesses take steps to ensure that AI is used for good.

Invest in research into the potential risks and benefits of AI. This will help us to better
understand the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.

Foster international cooperation on AI. This will help us to develop common standards and
practices for the development and use of AI.

It is important to note that these are just some of the ways to control AI technology globally.
There is no single solution that will work for everyone.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that AI is used for good and not for evil. It is
important to start now, as AI technology is developing rapidly. We need to be proactive in
addressing the potential risks of AI, so that we can reap the benefits of this technology while
avoiding the dangers.

Technology is a complex and ever-changing topic, so it is no surprise that there are so many
different perspectives on it. Ultimately, the way we view technology is up to us. We can choose
to see it as a tool for good or a threat to our humanity. The choice is ours.
Lastly, as Stewart Brand said,
“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the
road.”

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