Artificial Intelligence Should Not Be Left Unsupervised

There was a time when artificial intelligence was a faraway dream, a fiction of sorts. It was thought of vividly as part of a prosperous future, but that is the case no more. Artificial intelligence is now, and is becoming increasingly popular due to a variety of factors including and not limited to affordable storage and computing and big data growth. It is at such a stage where it serves as a valuable component for companies and individuals alike, all the while affecting daily life like never before.

The benefits of AI cannot be denied, as it has unfathomable potential. But just like everything else, there is a cost associated to adopting said technology. Before the cons can be further examined, let’s take a look at the benefits that artificial intelligence has to offer.

Benefits of AI

What is really astounding is the fact that machine learning has allowed companies and individuals to deal with problems much more effectively. Taking Netflix’s predictive technology into account, which suggests movies you may like based on analysis of records, it is not that difficult to see as to why similar technology is being implemented into any and all walks of life.

The progress made by AI is amazing to say the least. On the medical front, the technology has reached at such a stage where it can analyze retinal scans and be able to assess whether an individual has and will have any medical conditions in the near future.

At the same time, AI has also had a considerable hand in the development of blockchain technology, which is commonly used by cryptocurrencies like Ether and Bitcoin. Apart from its most common use, it has made its way to the creation of ledger systems that are transparent, permanent, decentralized and untamperable as well.

The Dilemma

Now the real problem with AI is the lack of human interaction. Even though it should be a blessing, it is in fact disastrous to say the least. This is made evident by the Harvard Business Review, which illustrates how this could eventually lead to fall of value for predictions made by humans, with the increase in value of judgment instead. For instance, in a company this would mean that manager’s predictions would not be given that much importance, but their judgment in matters of mentoring and maintaining ethical standards will be held in high regard.

AI Needs to be Supervised

A couple of reasons why AI can end up doing more harm than good, and should be supervised for the following reasons:

• With the potential growth of AI, it could outsmart markets and human researchers and can end up creating weapons humans could not possibly understand. It could even be the last event in human history, if the risks associated are not dealt with beforehand.
• Super Intelligent systems could be beneficial initially, but eventually they will become a concern.
• It could lead to an existential threat for humanity without regulation, especially considering how vulnerable the human race is and how prone it is to making mistakes time and time again.

For those claiming folly, while resorting to the aforementioned reasons as pieces of fiction will be surprised to know that they have been put forward by none other than world’s smartest people. Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and Elon Musk, respectively, made said statements and are quite concerned about the way AI is being taken for granted, without taking into account the various problems that exist and how they could eventually lead to extinction of the human race, much like the plot from The Terminator franchise, as absurd as it may seem.

In conclusion, there is more than enough evidence to support why AI cannot be left unsupervised. Additionally, great care must be taken while dealing with such technologies and how they are being integrated into society. This does not necessarily mean that AI should be shunned, but it should be handled with care, for others reasons that include massive cyber-attacks which could affect financial markets and healthcare industries, potentially resulting in loss of financial records and even death due to malfunctioning computer hardware connected to the internet.

About the Author

Anas Baig is a Cyber Security Journalist & Tech Reporter. He has been featured on major media outlets including TheGuardian, Lifehacker Australia, CIO, ITProPortal, Infosec Magazine, Tripwire and many others. He writes about online security and privacy, IoT, AI, and Big Data. If you’d like to get in touch, please send an email to anasbaig113@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @anasbaigdm.