Some scientists are saying that AI will save the world. If this claim is valid, the main question is, at what cost?
In 2023, 42% of businesses worldwide use AI for everyday tasks. 79% of companies within the top 10 in their industry are investing heavily in artificial intelligence. We are flooded by a technology that can be highly unpredictable, and the outcome may not be positive for humanity.
Privacy
All the technology we use today is or will be connected to AI. IoT (The Internet of Things) is just one of many examples of how we can quickly lose our privacy. All the devices and gadgets we’re using daily can feed AI with relevant data about our daily routines. Who, what, where, with who, how, how long. AI wants to know everything, and you can do nothing about it.
Even though data collection is regulated by law, the fact is that someone, somewhere, will still be able to access the system and read everything about you and your private life.
Surveillance cameras, biometric technology, phones, browsing history, and social media are some elements that could be integrated into an extensive AI network that can quickly process all the private data.
In 2017, the University of Washington presented the first battery-free cellphone powered by radio waves from cell phone towers, Wi-Fi routers, and other sources. In the meantime, the technology has advanced, and six years later, this battery-free device is at least three times smaller in size. Imagine if someone puts this device into your hairdryer, your car, or almost any other item you’re using daily. This device (as any other electronic device) can also be combined with AI and 5G and used as a perfect surveillance “tool” that will work under all conditions.
AI can be used and abused; it all depends on who’s “behind the wheel .” Large corporations finance the most successful AI projects, but no one still has an answer who will have full access to the system or personal data.
Security
With all the computing power, AI can provide answers within milliseconds. The same goes for many other tasks. An in-depth analysis that requires 48 hours now can be done within 2 minutes. The short processing time can be both helpful and dangerous. In the past, hackers had to spend plenty of time figuring out how to penetrate the system. And now, with a proper AI engine and the right tools, hackers can discover vulnerabilities faster than ever.
So, it is no wonder that over a billion cyber attacks have occurred in the first quarter of 2023.
Conversely, it’s concerning that AI is everywhere, in all industries worldwide. Some countries are using AI-driven power grids. And we can already imagine a scenario where a simple bug in the system will leave millions without electricity, food, and water.
Ethics
From January to July (2023), according to Layoffs.fyi, 231,349 tech employees lost their jobs. Big tech companies are claiming that economic crisis and profit are the main reasons for the mass layoffs.
And no one officially mentions AI as a possible replacement for these 200+ K employees.
If this trend continues, over 65% of people will be unemployed by 2030.
AI, along with robotics, will be self-sustainable in the following years.
With proper software and hardware, AI will be capable of producing the parts and machines required for further reproduction.
And it’s a matter of time before AI will slowly but surely replace almost all other job positions on a global level.
Regarding ethics, the main questions are:
Who allowed this, why, what do the taxpayers think about their future replacement, and does anyone care about what all those unemployed people will do for a living?
Conclusion
If we consider AI’s influence on our everyday lives and future AI predictions, we will conclude that Artificial Intelligence will create a mess that no one will be able to keep under control.
There are way too many things that can go wrong; that’s why this technology should be strictly limited and regulated by ordinary people, not corporations.