Artificial intelligence, AI, founded at a workshop held on the campus of Dartmouth college in 1956, has many different definitions; some see it as the created technology that allows computers and machines to function intelligently, others see it as the machine that replaces human labor to work for men for more effective and speedier result. Despite the different definitions, the common understanding of AI is that it is associated with machines and computers to help human solve problems and facilitate working processes.
Along with the rapid development of cybernetic technology in recent years, AI has been seen almost in all life circles.
This is because human is always looking for something faster, easier, more effective, and convenient to finish the task they work on, therefore, the pressure for further development motivates human to look for a new and better way of doing things.
Although AI makes life easier, in the early 20th century , Aldous Huxley warned in his book , “Brave New World ” that as human-technology kept developing, man might step into a world in which they create a monster or a super human with the development of genetic technology.
This implies that with the progressive development of AI, human labor will no longer be needed as everything can be done mechanically. Today, many automobile assembly lines have been filled with machineries and robots, forcing traditional workers to lose their jobs. Even in the supermarket, the store clerks might not be needed anymore as the digital device can take over human labor.The human masters who create AI may invent something that is racial bias or egocentrically oriented to harm certain people or things.
Nevertheless, there are many positive impacts. For instance , AI is breaking into the healthcare industry by assisting doctors to diagnose, finding the sources of diseases, suggesting various ways of treatment performing surgery and predicting if the illness is life-threatening. Despite all the positive promises that AI provides, human experts are still needed to avoid the misclassification of unknown diseases because AI is not omnipotent to solve all problems for human kinds. There are times when AI meets a bottleneck, and to carry on its mission, it may just proceed indiscriminately, ending in creating more problems. Thus vigilant watch of AI’s function cannot be neglected.
AI should benefit human life, society and universe. Any AI that performs any destructive work on bio-universe, must be avoided and forbidden. Therefore , values that govern the order of the natural world must be observed. AI designers and developers must bear in mind they carry a heavy responsibility of the outcome and impact of AI on human society and the universe. They must be accountable for whatever they manufacture and create.
Since AI is without a soul , every individual must take note of what Joseph Weizenbaum, a pioneer of AI, said that no one must let computers make important decisions because AI as a machine will never possess human qualities such as compassion and wisdom to morally discern and judge. Therefore, AI technology must be progressed with extreme caution.
Florence Israel writes from Radio Nigeria Treasure FM Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
