The first designed artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of checkers program on Ferranti Mark-I computer in 1951, marked the beginning of huge global automated tech revolution. From self-driving cars to chatbots and humanoid robots are shifting the dynamics of science and human life towards astounding possibilities beyond shadow of a doubt.
The extraordinary simulation of man’s intelligence, reasoning, decision making and problem solving beside a vast range of programmed human reactions is making artificial intelligence talk of the town including many as proponents and many critics. The fast pace progress in the field of AI is associated with ultimate intent of integrating man’s intellect with technology to a level where it becomes indistinguishable from the living beings. Beside AI’s contributions in saving labor and time along with expanding productivity, this flying start is throwing caution to the wind and could jeopardize the human race sooner or later.
The extent of AI’s ability to takeover Homo sapiens could be assessed from recent statements of Elon musk, founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX that “at least when there’s an evil dictator, that human is going to die in the end. But for an AI, there would be no death. It would live forever and then you’d have an immortal dictator from which we can never escape”. The development of such super intelligent electronics is expected to supersede the human dominance and control over the globe, if kept proceeding without any jurisdictions and restricted provision to the public domain. Currently open access of many AI based applications or with small payments throughout the world including Pakistan seems now beneficial but would lead to a whole new generation of laymen without polished intellect.
The level of extravagant programming as a result of an arm race between different AI applications would lead to only dull witted society under the reign of their own creation. Many critics feel that these AI developing operations could be lost from the memory and records which could ultimately outmaneuver the power of human life. Even in the current scenario, where the public consumers are exploring the range of available AI options, there is risk of job elimination for a major class of the community. Where many claim that AI will for sure have employment alternatives, but the catch that it will still somehow abolish physical tasks and would demand only intellectual abilities with sedentary life style is menacing.
Digital world is source of ease for human kind but its extreme shapes in the forms of “Sophia”, a social humanoid robot, “Desdemona” robot that can do spoken poetry in terms of cultural references and music and “Talos” robot that can alone hold a load of 6kgs demonstrates that AI’s impossible cessation would derive humanity into deep waters and its control would become just like biting off more than we can chew in the future. First AI machine to beat a human in chess like game was “MANIAC” in 1956 and since then many such robotic programmes are beating humans in organized competitions.
Right now this seems fun and useful side by side, although if not produced in a controlled manner, the days would not be far away where the fiction movies could turn to reality showing humanoid technology as the new ruler of the earth with all might. The irony is AI doesn’t have to be evil to ruin humanity’s essence and just illustrated best in one of another Elon musk’s statement “It’s just like, if we’re building a road and an anthill just happens to be in the way, we don’t hate ants, we’re just building a road, and so, goodbye anthill.” Its repercussions and controlled availability and utility need a globally detailed analysis as sooner AI could begin to deliver where man’s wits end.