Billionaire and visionary Elon Musk decided to play the “creator of Frankenstein” and scare humanity. He warns that uncontrolled artificial intelligence (AI) is the biggest threat to human civilization that could occur in the next five years. Moreover, Musk himself is the co-founder of OpenAI, who created the same chatbot ChatGPT, which is currently making a worldwide splash.
The number of subscribers exceeded 100 million in just two months – this is an absolute record in terms of growth rates. It can lead to a much more meaningful dialogue than any of these developments known so far. It can even make jokes that go unnoticed behind artificial intelligence. He can write screenplays and poetry and has “skills” for entry-level programming. In Russia, there was already experience of writing a diploma using ChatGPT, everyone was so stunned by this experience that they did not even understand how to react, and as far as is known, the diploma was credited. This bot chat also provides a qualitatively different level of Internet search, in fact it is in dialogue with a person and complements it (it does not change it yet). But until now, the “smart bot” does not know how to think independently. However, many people have this feature, so it is not critical for this bot.
However, the most important thing – and Musk points out – is that Not only is AI highly advanced, it will now be available to almost anyone with a smartphone. So it went to the masses and could reach “every cook”. And then, apparently, for itself, the great AI will realize that it’s not worth it to adapt to the chicken brains of a narrow-minded layman – and it’s time to start an independent life.
This isn’t the first time Max has frightened the world with the uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence, but it depicts how rebellious robots roam the streets, preying on people, believing that this may pose greater risks than anything humanity has ever devised, including nuclear weapons (this told him in 2017). told). And in 2020, Musk predicted that artificial intelligence could take over the world sooner or later. However, visionary Musk’s recipe for “liberation” doesn’t convince or inspire: it suggests “how to regulate AI.”
Yet all of human history shows that sooner or later any regulation – literally everything – falls under the influence of unstoppable human progress. And those who have not yet fallen will certainly fall. This, by the way, applies to all kinds of social taboos: the archaic in this field can periodically take revenge in a particular society, but still retreat.
But we got off topic…
Another interesting aspect of AI’s development – in addition to horror stories about how it will outwit us all – is the yet unforeseen consequences of the “symbiosis” between it and the human brain, which creates a certain new quality in human life. There is already some experience studying the behavior of people with brain implants that form the so-called brain-computer interface (NCI) through which the brain exchanges information with a computer; In a way, biofeedback creates a kind of symbiosis. Most often, such systems are used to help people who are deprived of vision (for example, simulating the retina of the eye) or hearing. Or, for example, to stop epileptic seizures (by monitoring the activity of brain signals). The implants are being tested for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease and depression. There are projects for completely paralyzed people. Finally, Musk himself has a project to “chive” fairly healthy people – Neuralink.
Of course, the military has already become interested in the subject, “military money” actively entered this field in the hope of finally creating a universal soldier, as in the film with Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Currently about 200 thousand people in the world live with one or another type of brain implants, this – so far medical – market is growing rapidly and is already estimated at more than 5 billion dollars.
Of course, all these studies will soon leave the medical field altogether. I already have experience of interaction between brain and computer for typing text, searching the internet, creating video footage. But all this can have the most serious impact on a person’s cognitive abilities. For example, it will be possible to communicate with people in a foreign language without ever knowing it. Solve various technical problems, create works of art. Or – more mundane – running an election or propaganda campaign with the help of artificial intelligence. To reach literally everyone.
All these new “qualities” of a person will definitely change his personality, his self. It is still difficult to imagine all the psychological, moral and ethical consequences of these processes. For the tenth time in history, technological progress has gone far beyond existing moral and ethical barriers. It had never gone this far before.
Studies of people living with NCI have shown mixed results. For some, recovering from depression has led to positive changes in personality and self-image. For some, the NCI, on the contrary, has led to an inflated self-confidence (they say, I can do anything) that is unrealizable, bringing others almost to the brink of suicide.
When artificial intelligence enters the mainstream beyond the borders of medicine, including the NCI, there can be many negative unforeseen consequences. For example, a person may become addicted to artificial intelligence because they are already addicted to smartphones. Or what if hackers could learn how to read your thoughts, desires, recognize your plans and weaknesses, through the cloud where NCI works, placed in your head? Or if not hackers but the government will start manipulating you in the most brutal way through these NCIs? How did you find this, Elon Max?
Or, instead of the brain’s “creative symbiosis” with artificial intelligence, some of the former’s abilities will be blunted. For example, the main disadvantage of ChatGPT, which is already reaching the masses, is seen by many as the lack of alternatives, the lack of variability in answers and suggested solutions. AI, it seems, will always (for good or for now) offer some “just right”, error-free options. As if depriving a person of the right to make a mistake. But also the right to choose. It is not a fact that we would all want to live in such an infallible world. Many will of course be very comfortable.
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the editors’ position.
Source: Gazeta
Dolores Johnson is a voice of reason at “Social Bites”. As an opinion writer, she provides her readers with insightful commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. With her well-informed perspectives and clear writing style, Dolores helps readers navigate the complex world of news and politics, providing a balanced and thoughtful view on the most important topics of the moment.