The Ethics Of AI

Initiated by:
• Ceit

Details

The debate over AI and the (un)avoidable effects of its introduction into society has been simmering for quite some time. Many arguments have been brought up, and not really countered...we basically get told, "Just wait and see." Of course, we can't predict the future with certainty, and humans are notoriously bad at it, with a few notable exceptions (Machine Stops, cough, cough). This article - https://onlys.ky/shut-it-all-down-the-ethics-and-risks-of-ai/ -reminds us that AI has in fact existed for decades, but what we should be concerned about is not the computer that can play chess or create images of computers flying through space, but the type of AI that is not so limited in its skills - Artificial General Intelligence. This is the AI that will theoretically make decisions; hold natural conversations; create a world for human benefit...until it decides to act in its own benefit. Yes, there are also many hopeful views on the future use of fully developed AIs, to remove drudgery from human life and irrational human emotion from serious decision making. AI can be used, they say, to treat mental illnesses. They can referee human disagreements on the world stage, playing the completely objective and logical observer. And yet, can we trust that those dreams are achievable and not some pipe-dream or even a beautiful lie to keep us quiet while those who will never have the obligation to use AI set up their profit making enterprises with it? Everyone makes decisions to benefit themselves, we think, and at any given point it makes more sense to use AI to create images or text for your project than to hire a human to do so. It's cost effective. It's also more cost effective to buy fast fashion or processed food or subsidized goods, which might not be local. In fact, probably not local. In the end those decisions can be seriously detrimental to society and human economy, but why should we make sacrifices now when there's no guarantee that we won't also have to make them later? There is also the question of power. Not power like authority, but electricity. AI requires some serious power. Despite the desire of many to increase reliance on renewable energy, it is a simple fact that the electrical needs of AI servers will be beyond what we can produce at this time without conventional power plants, and even nuclear plants. The question is always, how can we be prepared? The question is often, why should we be prepared? Are we going to come up with the answers ourselves, or delegate to the machine? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gq3UEAiWio