Friday, February 17, 2023

Humans & Artificial Intelligence

With the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), one can anticipate many benefits and many risks for human society.  Most of the benefits will relate to technologic efficiencies while the risks will surely center around human education, job security, mental health and relationships.

A step beyond the challenges imposed by the internet and social media (including misinformation, media addiction, bullying and fraud, to name a few), AI will pose an even greater threat to our personal identity and mental health.  One can easily imagine the tendency of some individuals to develop "relationships" with imaginary cyber-friends, a theme that has been explored in some movies.

Unless humans build in safety controls (a major failure in the history of social media) the risks of AI will likely outweigh the benefits.  As with addiction to cell phones, streaming services, computers and virtual reality devices, protection from AI's ill effects will require limited exposure, enforced by parents, teachers, managers and others.  My only personal contribution is to recommend more time in nature's realm, away from the various technologies that strive to control our lives.