Detractors of AI have understandable concerns, but their points have been clouded by "Terminator" movies and guesswork about how AI will affect Human lives.
Elon Musk, for example, continues to call for more regulatory oversight regarding advanced AI development. Musk's own companies are working diligently on AI development, but he and others believe that AI's enormous potential makes it a potentially dangerous tool. Collaborative regulation is good, but when audiences take Musk's caution as condemnation, unhelpful narratives spread.
AI development warrants caution, but just because a superintelligent AI with unlimited access to the world's computers could pose a threat doesn't mean all AI is bad for you. Not only are humans nowhere near the realization of truly dangerous AI technology, but fear of AI will only hold you back from realizing the incredible benefits that new tools have to offer.
Google's chief decision scientist, Cassie Kozyrkov, addressed concerns about AI last June. Kozyrkov recognized fears that AI will turn hostile or steal Human jobs, but as she pointed out, the ability to create better tools has been the driving force behind humanity's ascension.
"Humanity's story is the story of automation," Kozyrkov said in London. "Humanity's entire story is about doing things better --Â from that first moment that someone picked up a rock and banged another rock with it because things could get done faster. We are a tool-making species; we rebel against drudgery."
Rather than treat AI like a ticking time bomb, Kozyrkov and others believe researchers and audiences should prioritize sound developmental practices. Artificial Intelligence can inherit the biases of the people creating it; involving more people with diverse perspectives is key to eliminating problematic developments.
Kozyrkov also emphasized the importance of safety nets to catch problems with AI before those problems go from bad to worse. Even brilliant AI systems can fail, especially in their infancy.Â
Right now, AI is more like a toddler looking for guidance than a disturbed teenager ready to burn down the house. General AI remains an unknown entity, but the people working on the front lines appreciate their responsibility to nurture systems in the right direction.
AI fearmongers invariably focus on the pitfalls of generalized AI systems. They rarely stop to consider all the niche ways AI has begun to make the world a safer, healthier, and happier place.Â
Medical AI, for example, empowers healthcare providers to provide better diagnoses and treatments to more patients than they could on their own. That's a huge benefit during a pandemic that's stretching resources thin.
