Machine Intelligence: Impact on Human Society

Risk Group Founder, Jayshree Pandya PhD discusses “Machine Intelligence: Impact on Human Society” with David Moschella from Leading Edge Forum. Introduction When nations: its government, industries, organizations, academia and individuals (NGIOA-I) are presented with a new innovation, new technology or new way of doing things, a number of factors influence their decision-making process. For e.g. whether the technology or process will be used, how it will be used and when– are just some of the factors that would come in play when making a decision about any new way of doing things. In addition, whether using a particular technology or process would enhance the job performance, whether it would decrease costs, increase profits also gets factored into decision-making process. Now when we evaluate “Artificial Intelligence” from the perspective of whether this extraordinary innovation will be accepted by nations: its government, industries, organizations and academia (NGIOA), it brings forth very complex challenges and independent and interdependent security risks that will likely be very difficult to manage for any nation: its government, industries, organizations, academia and individuals. It is certain that the potential of AI realized will likely depend on how it is understood and received by NGIOA-I, its social and political impact, understanding of the benefits and risks and willingness on part of NGIOA-I to accept the fundamental changes brought on by the AI.  In short, the potential of AI will be heavily influenced by individual human choice and opinion. Generally, an “individual”, a “human being”, a “common man” across nations is largely taken for granted when it comes to technology trend or acceptance. However, when it comes to AI, nations should not make any mistake of taking the “common man”, an “individual” component of a nation for granted. While some studies are under way to understand the effects of artificial intelligence on society, including efforts to understand its effects on the economy, war, crime, jobs and so on, we, the humans still have to understand how will we reshape human roles, responsibilities, purpose and plan. Artificial Intelligence: A Defining theme of a Digital Global Age “Artificial intelligence (or AI) will be one of the defining themes of the digital global age. However, the challenge for we, the humans is to ensure that we make good use of the opportunities it brings to us, to our nations: its governments, industries, organizations and academia; as we are all in this together. But, at present, neither the NGIOA nor we, the humans have begun to consider its ramifications, good or bad in a way it should have been. The use of AI is not new. We have been using it for years in some basic form. However, as we, the humans aim for broader capabilities beyond our intelligence, the rapid rise of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) will undoubtedly create complex security challenges that will likely be beyond our capabilities to manage. So the concern here is whether, we the humans are aware of the impact AI or “Machine Intelligence” could have on our very survival? AI Benefits AI has the potential to positively transform, and utilize and process data and information in ways that traditional humans simply cannot. The biggest advantage of AI based machines is; machines don’t get tired! We humans do. With the material which they are constructed today and will be in the coming tomorrow, they can be many times stronger than humans. This will make it possible for them to do things beyond any human’s physical strength and ability. With these realities and possibilities, what do NGIOA gain and what do humans lose? Machine Intelligence Machine intelligence is commonly described as computer systems that perform tasks traditionally re...