Understanding AI: A Change for the Better or a Risk to Our Future?
When we talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on employment that might take over jobs, it’s crucial to remember a fundamental aspect: jobs are created by humans based on societal needs and values.
jobs are man-made.
Jobs come and go based on what’s needed and valuable at the time. This is how it’s always been, and it’s how we keep moving forward and coming up with new ideas. Instead of doing boring, repetitive tasks, we can focus on more important and creative work.
When a job’s purpose fades due to changes in demand or relevance, it naturally evolves or becomes obsolete. This cycle of change isn’t something to fear; rather, it’s a driving force behind human progress, pushing us to innovate and to focus on tasks that are more meaningful and creative.
History is replete with examples of technological advancements that initially sparked fears of job loss but ultimately led to greater productivity and new opportunities. The introduction of machinery in the industrial era, for example, allowed for mass production and the creation of new industries.
Let’s look at the past for examples. When machines were invented, people could make more things faster. When tools for programming like IDEs came along, programmers didn’t have to waste hours looking for tiny mistakes in their code. When WordPress came out, making websites became something anyone could do. At first, programmers were worried that WordPress would put them out of jobs, but that didn’t happen. There’s still a lot of demand for building websites in today’s world.
Even fields such as translation, once considered irreplaceable human skills, have been significantly transformed by AI. This transition from human to machine-led tasks is a testament to our ability to adapt and find new niches in the face of technological change. I remember us used to fancy translator jobs as it used to be high pay and enabled us to travel the world.
But we shouldn’t be too scared of AI. We should learn how to use it to make our work easier and more productive. If we think of AI just as a helpful tool, it seems mostly good, right?
However, there’s more to it.
The apprehension surrounding AI is not unfounded. People are worried about AI not just because it can do simple tasks, but because it can also do the kind of thinking and creating that humans do, and it’s getting better at this very quickly.
AI has the potential to replicate and even surpass human capabilities in both physical and cognitive tasks. This rapid advancement from basic automation to sophisticated forms of AI, such as Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), poses unprecedented challenges to the job market and societal structures.
In just a year after ChatGPT was released, we’re now moving aggressively towards more advanced AI, and these could really shake things up.
The prospect of ANI and AGI outperforming humans in a wide range of tasks, including those that require years of learning and experience, raises critical concerns. The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of AI could lead to a significant devaluation of human labor, pushing many out of jobs and creating a wide economic gap between those who control AI technologies and those whose skills have been rendered obsolete.
Businesses might prefer using AI since it’s cheaper and can be better than hiring people. This means a lot of jobs could disappear, and people might end up earning less.
In this future scenario, where AI capabilities dramatically exceed human labor in efficiency and creativity, humans risk being marginalized in the economy. This shift could lead to a societal model where human roles are primarily limited to consumption, with diminishing opportunities for meaningful participation in the workforce.
This could lead to big problems like the collapse of the current way our economy works. Such a transformation would not only affect individual livelihoods but also the very fabric of society, potentially leading to the erosion of traditional economic models and the rise of social unrest or conflict over limited resources.
So, what does the future look like for us in this scenario? It looks like we/humans might just end up as consumers, with not much else to do.
I see war in the future.
We’re at a turning point for the future.
The urgency of these challenges requires a proactive and collaborative response from the global community. Nations, industries, and individuals must come together to develop comprehensive policies that address the integration of AI into the fabric of society. These policies should aim to harness the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks, ensuring that technological advancements contribute to the common good.
Key areas for policy development include education and workforce training, ensuring that future generations possess the skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Social safety nets and economic policies must be reimagined to protect those displaced by automation and to promote equitable distribution of the wealth generated by AI technologies.
Moreover, ethical considerations must be at the forefront of AI development and deployment, guiding how AI is used and ensuring that it serves to enhance human dignity and well-being.
As we navigate the complexities of this new era, it’s essential to maintain a balanced perspective on AI. While recognizing its potential to transform our world, we must also engage in thoughtful and inclusive decision-making processes. By doing so, we can steer the course of AI development in a direction that not only avoids existential threats but also opens up new avenues for human creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment.
However, we need to be quick. because we don’t have much time left.
