Summary
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about artificial intelligence this week. I particularly enjoyed the articles written by Paul Scharre and James Johnson. I think they do a great job of describing its dynamic nature and how powerful it can be in our lives. AI has the potential to positively transform various aspects of our lives, including healthcare, transportation, education, and employment. It also plays a pivotal role in strengthening our military capabilities. It is abundantly clear that AI is here to stay and will only become more ubiquitous as countries race to become the AI superpower, investing significant capital and resources into its advancement.
The risks of advancing AI technologies, however, are deeply concerning. Oftentimes these risks are not spoken about or emphasized sufficiently in the media, making it easy to turn a blind eye and not delve beyond the surface. AI poses significant threats to our health, safety, and employment. People with bad intentions can easily find loopholes or manipulate algorithms in order to cause harm. Even more troubling is the fact that there is a lack of a foolproof method to fully safeguard against this. For this reason, I agree with the above authors that, while AI is certainly a helpful and empowering tool, prioritizing safety research and mechanisms should take precedence before allowing for widespread accessibility. Strict regulatory measures also need to be employed and enforced as soon as possible in order to prevent the misuse of AI systems for harmful purposes. These measures should be standardized at the international level so that all countries are aligned in their understanding of AI and its dangers. Like nuclear weapons, AI has the potential to cause major destruction. It is important to acknowledge this and address its risks before it is too late.