The internet and technology have become an integral aspect of human life in the contemporary world. Machines are one of the major manifestations of the use and reliance of humans on technology. Most of the machines have software components, which are driven by artificial intelligence (AI) applications. AI is a branch of computer science that involves developing computer systems with the ability to think, solve problems, and reason like human beings. At present, AI is affecting almost all aspects of human life including security, health care, the economy, employment, and ethics. The development of AI machines is not devoid of ethical issues and concerns on their safety to the users and the privacy and confidentiality of the users’ information ( Qadir, 2018 ). There is also the fear of creating unemployment by replacing the human labor. Despite these concerns, AI has significant benefits to humankind and has enhanced life through education, improved healthcare, traffic control and autonomous vehicles, space exploration, and global security.
AI systems have been implemented in a wide range of salient or subtle applications in daily routines. For instance, most individuals use credit cards for various transactions. Credit cards incorporate an AI system that determines whether the transaction is valid or not. In cases where the operation is invalid, the transaction will not be processed. Another critical AI application is GPS (Global Positioning System). The GPS is managed by an AI algorithm that enables the users to find the best routes to their destinations ( Bentley, Brundage, Häggström & Metzinger, 2018 ). Also, search engines such as Google and Yahoo rely on AI to give users the most appropriate web pages as per their inquiry. Face detention and mobile apps such as Siri are based on AI systems. Therefore, AI provides a solution to different problems in life making the day-to-day activities easier.
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At times, it is very challenging for the human brain to make sense of a lot of data. In such scenarios, the mind tends to act slowly in evaluating the possible sequences of outcomes leading to a low decision-making process. For instance, it very hard to predict all possible movements in a chess game in a short time even for the best player in the world. However, according to Moore’s law, a computer system doubles its computing power every 18 months ( Qadir, 2018 ). Therefore, AI systems through computer algorithms can facilitate faster and better decision-making process when it comes to solving problems. Moreover, AI algorithms can be used to create probability models that can be used to clear out uncertainties between real-life cause and effect situations (Qadir, 2018). Hence, unlike the human brain, AI is more reliable and can be used to overcome any real-life biases.
Numerous deaths occur sue to road carnages each day across the world. Most of those car accidents are always traced back to human fault. With the adoption autonomous vehicles using an AI system, about half of those accidents can be prevented ( Eriksson & Stanton, 2017 ). Computer science researchers are currently developing an intelligent self-driving car with the capabilities to recognize what is happening in the roads, including pedestrian actions and how to maneuver unexpected situations ( Eriksson & Stanton, 2017 ). AI driving system will be advantageous compared to the typical human driving performance. Besides, some AI tools are in play on our roads. These tools can gather data from road traffic sensors, and then the data is used to formulate better ways to prevent road accidents ( Eriksson & Stanton, 2017 ). AI technology has enhanced human efficiency in the roads enabling them to be capable of detecting and predicting traffic conditions. Therefore, in the future, traffic management will be more accurate with a reduced number of road accidents with the adoption of AI systems in transportation.
AI is not a threat to humanity because of its positive impacts on automation in industries. An example of an AI machine is the robot. A robot is capable of performing multiple tasks tirelessly without being affected by emotions. The same cannot be said for humans. With the adoption of AI in industries, probabilities of error occurrence are minimal which contributes to faster production and increased efficiency. As a result, the cost of production will be reduced leading to reduced operational expenditures (Saranya, 2016). Another advantage of AI automation is that it could help to explore and understand the world better. Humans cannot survive in hostile environments such as space and thus, AI machines designed for such purposes can be used to study the settings. If any threats are identified, such as climate change, humans will be notified and mitigate ways to prevent the risk. Thus, one can say that AI can be used to make the planet a safe place and not a threat.
Over the years, the field of medicine has improved under the influence of AI. Nowadays, one can access treatment, even if the doctor is absent. AI tools such as computer vision and signal process technology implemented in robotics will enable doctors to treat patients remotely (Frey & Osborne, 2017). Also, using robots to treat patients is more advantageous compared to using human doctors because they will not get tired and will be more accurate with the treatment process thus curbing medical errors. For example, IBM’s Watson is currently the best in cancer diagnosis and other complex disease recognition. IBM’s Watson can collect enormous information to carry out diagnostics which is beyond human capabilities (Saranya, 2016). Additionally, the lives of many soldiers who die on the battlefields due to lack of enough medical support can be reduced by sending AI machines to battle friends to treat them. The fact that AI is more accurate in medical diagnosis than human doctors proves that AI is not a threat to humanity but an opportunity to save more lives.
The face of the world can be changed through the adoption of AI in the nanotechnology industry. A fusion of nanotechnology and AI can be useful in the field of military to develop defensive armors and powerful weapons ( Saranya, 2016 ). To date, there are no defensive armors that can survive a nuclear explosion, which puts the lives of the soldiers more at risk. Most nations have focused on developing nuclear weapons for safety reasons without establishing countermeasures of a nuclear blast. Therefore, adoption of AI in the military field can be used to save the lives of many soldiers when it comes to war.
AI has a significant influence in the field of education. Currently, there is rampant use of computers in schools. Adoption of AI in schools has led to increased student learning and motivation. Examples of AI tools in education include computer-aided instruction (CAI) and computer-based training (CBT). However, these tools were not as useful as human tutors as they did not provide individualized attention that a student required. As a result, researchers in this field developed intelligent tutoring systems that were more flexible in material presentation and responding to student needs (Saranya, 2016). These systems present both the tutor and the learner with the relevant educational information. That information creates room for flexibility between the tutor and student interactions. These intelligent tutoring systems have been active in enhancing student performance both at school and outside the school environment. It is comprehensible that AI implementation in education is beneficial and therefore, should not be seen as a threat in the future.
On the other hand, there are controversial ethical issues associated with the adoption of AI. Some researchers perceive that AI is growing fast and will probably be a threat to humanity. They that believe in the coming years, AI could become strong beyond human control. AI systems are developed based on human intelligence such as logic, creativity, problem solving and self-awareness (Bentley et al., 2018). If the systems are designed to be comparable to same human standards, humans will feel threatened, and that might be a big problem for our safety. This is so because the AI systems can become more intelligent and outperform humans. If that happens, it could be difficult to stop them from reaching their set goals, which may lead to unintended consequences (Frey & Osborne, 2017). One of the most influential scientists, Stephen Hawking, asserted that humankind is on the verge of self-destruction because of AI. He said that if the goals of AI do not align with human goals, humanity will be in disarray. Also, Elon Musk, the co-founder of Tesla Company, shares the same sentiments (Qadir, 2018). However, he indicates that if AI is regulated, it can be beneficial to humanity.
Another significant risk of AI is the loss of jobs in the future as it replaces human labor with machines. The trend has begun taking effect in some industries ( Qadir, 2018 ). Implementation of AI in the United States in the 21 st century will leave 47% of the employees at risk of losing their jobs (Frey & Osborne, 2017). This is because over 35% of employment in the United States are at a high risk of being automated in the next decade. The only jobs that will be left without automation are jobs that require high levels of social intelligence such as public relations consultation and law. Also, automation will increase the income gap between the poor and the rich, leading to a fall in incomes and rising unemployment. However, people should focus on attaining high standards of education to understand the ways of AI since nothing can stop technology from advancing. Although AI will substitute human labor, it will create an opportunity for new other forms of jobs.
The issue of responsibility and privacy is also a prevalent concern in AI. First, people remain skeptical about driverless cars because they do not know who to be blamed if an accident occurs. This raises an ethical issue in society. Although in some countries rules for self-driving cars have been passed, they do not address the problems regarding responsibility. Further, an additional ethical issue of AI is privacy. Most AI applications rely on private information used by clients on the internet (Qadir, 2018). An AI-based system may probably reveal private information to the public without the consent of the client. Therefore, policies and processes should be developed to ensure that AI does not invade the privacy of the users, and its advantages are distributed widely and fairly.
Conclusion
AI is a combination of many technologies that are exceptional from the existing inventions of humanity. For that reason, AI is expected to significantly influence the future of humanity since human beings will always embrace new technologies that seem to have an impact on their way of living. However, the contentious question is whether embracing AI will be beneficial to humanity and society as a whole. There is evidence to suggest that AI will not be a threat to humanity, but this will depend on how well the technology is introduced. AI is the kind of change that should be embraced with caution and also should not be taken for granted. An AI machine that could be more intelligent and not get exhausted will present more advantages over humans. As a result, AI will be much beneficial to humans in various aspects of life including healthcare, problem-solving, decision making, production, education, self-driving cars and importantly, in protection.
On the other hand, by embracing AI, we should be ready to face any consequences whether they are related to ethical issues, unemployment, or the very existence of humanity. However, without regulations and standards to ensure the effects are alleviated, AI would be destructive and a threat to society. Therefore, AI systems must be developed following the set regulations and standards. If the set rules are followed, trust and understanding between AI corporations and human beings will be established. In that way, humans will not feel threatened. The issue of increased income gap due to the loss of jobs, in the long run, will depend on government policies. The government can formulate new strategies to ensure all individuals are equally represented in the market according to their level of knowledge and skills. Since machines will be able to function at 100% when given intelligence, I advocate for the adoption of AI, considering we depend on them for almost every application in life.
References
Bentley, P. J., Brundage, M., Häggström, O., & Metzinger, T. (2018). Should We Fear Artificial Intelligence? In-depth Analysis . European Parliament.
Eriksson, A., & Stanton, N. A. (2017). Driving performance after self-regulated control transitions in highly automated vehicles. Human factors , 59 (8), 1233-1248.
Frey, C. B., & Osborne, M. A. (2017). The future of employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerization? Technological forecasting and social change , 114 , 254-280.
Qadir, H. (2018). Will Artificial Intelligence Brighten or Threaten the Future. Retrieved 25 September 2019, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323535179
Saranya, D. (2016). A Study on Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications (5th ed.). International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering.
