Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a field of computer science that focus on the development of intelligent machines that rationally operates like human beings. AI designed computers are capable of performing some rational activities such as learning, problem solving, speech recognition and planning. AI machines also have the capability of perception, reasoning and manipulation and relocation of objects. Besides robot and other AI computerized machines, AI also includes algorithms employed in internet search engines such as Google as well as autonomous weapons applications. Ethical considerations are paramount in the safe application of AI technology to foster technological developments towards improvement of the standard of living of the global population. Ethical concerns on AI technology revolve around the inclusion of the ethical dimension in the design, development and application of AI technology. Ethicists also express concerns over the unethical application of AI technology as well as violation of candid ethical principles in AI application (Green, 2018). Experts in AI technology and policy decision makers argue on the infeasibility of integration of ethical perspective in AI applications. In particular, technicians and decision makers observe that philosophical controversies over the various ethical perspectives are incompatible with empirical principles employed in design, development and application of AI technology (Müller, 2012). Although the philosophical argument adopted by ethicists is empirically incompatible with scientific empiricism adopted in AI technology, AI raises serious ethical essays as demonstrated in this essay.
Computer science classifies AI into two groups including weak or narrow AI and strong or general AI (AGI). Weak AI raises the least ethical concerns with respect to its limited application to internet search engine algorithms, facial recognition or driving automation. On the contrary, the broad potential of strong AI raises heated ethical debate due to its far reaching impact on humans’ lives. Concerns over AGI revolves around its ability to outpace humans in almost all cognitive activity, which might ultimately render human cognition obsolete with grave consequences on people unable to access AI cognitive resources.
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Proponents of strong AI identify its cognitive superiority over human cognition as an asset rather than a threat to humanity. A super-intelligent AI machine can help in eradication of problems beyond the capability of human intelligence. In particular, a cognitively super-intelligent machine can help in the eradication of diseases, war and poverty, which have eternally plagued humanity. Furthermore, supporters of strong AI refute concerns raised about its threat to humanity as based on myths rather than reality. Such myths include evolution of superhuman AI by the end of the 21 st century. AI proponents downplay successful evolution of superhuman AI in the 21 st century, but acknowledge the possibility of such evolution after the turn of the century. Skepticism over the evolution of super-intelligent AI rests on a failure of revolutionary technological progresses in invention of flying cars as hyped at the turn of the 21 st century.
A counter myth on the infeasibility of superhuman AI in the 21 st century is equally wrong. Similar technological skepticism has equally been confirmed wrong as evidenced from the invention of nuclear chain reaction by Szilard, 24 hours after the globally celebrated nuclear physicist Ernest Rutherford declared nuclear energy prospects as “moonshine”. Similarly, the triumph in interplanetary travel in the 19 th century disapproved Astronomer Richard Woolley pessimistic view of the prospect as “utter bilge”. Concerns over AI, therefore revolve more on the danger posed by strong AI rather than feasibility or the reality of superhuman AI evolution.
AI, both weak and strong AI, pose serious safety and security threats to humanity that justify ethical concerns over exploitation of AI technology. Safety and security concerns over AI include uncertainty over the behavior of superhuman AI machines. For instance a superhuman AI machines might take control of the planet and subordinate humans, in the same way evolution of human cognitive intelligence gave him dominion all planetary creatures. Strong AI, therefore, threatens human civilization from the race between AI, cognitive machines and human cognitive intelligence. Nevertheless, rather than suppress AI progress, humans should invest in AI safety and ethical research to protect human civilization.
References
Green, B. P. (2018). Ethical Reflections on Artificial Intelligence. Scientia Et Fides, 6 (2), 9-30.
Müller V. (2012). Philosophy and Theory of Artificial Intelligence . Springer Science & Business Media: Norderstedt
