What do Nuclear Proliferation and AI have in Common?

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Abstract

in some sectors and not provide other jobs in their stead. Many of the world’s most remarkable technologies, e.g., the printing press, did away with specific jobs (eg., monk scribes) but created other jobs in their wake. But with AI, I see it removing people from jobs, but instead of creating other jobs, I see it creating other opportunities only for itself — a perpetual machine of never-ending job assimilation.</p><p id="ec0e">The other aspect is AI’s ability to replace human creativity. AI’s database may originate from human creativity, but AI cannot be creative. AI bots (in their various forms) have been scurrying around the internet for years. Their creators are just getting better at how and where these AI bots work, while improving their output. But no matter how you want to spin it, AI is still “stealing” human created content and rearranging it for fun and profit.</p><p id="901f"><b><i>What are your biggest hopes for AI?</i></b></p><p id="02f3">There are areas where AI could benefit, like translators, aiding people with certain disabilities, information kiosks, and improving automation, to name a few. My biggest hope is that AI becomes a benefit to civilisation and not a liability.</p><p id="bb44"><b><i>How to ensure AI is used ethically & responsibly?</i></b></p><p id="ceb2">Government, corporations and the military would have us believe they have our best interests in mind. That could not be further from the truth. Persuasion, profit and power are their goals. Al will impact all aspects of civilisation. Therefore, all aspects of civilisation should have a say in how it is used, from the ordinary person on the street to the academic in the ivory tower. The passionate extremes we read and see about AI today must be mitigated by careful explanation and honest dialogue.</p><h1 id="84db">My Thoughts</h1><p id="7def">No, I

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will not be replaced, as a writer or as a human, anytime soon by AI. It has a long way to go before that ever happens if it ever does.</p><p id="28b2">I do raise an eyebrow and smirk at those AI prognosticators who want me to believe AI is the end-all, be-all answer to <fill in="" the="" blank="">.</fill></p><p id="b6b2">Nor is AI all doom and gloom, the beginning of the end and harbinger of Armageddon.</p><p id="e236">AI is a tool. Like any other tool it can be used for good or ill. Its difficult to think of pliers as a weapon but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Bittaker_and_Roy_Norris">it has been used that way</a>.</p><p id="4d20">If it were up to me, I would stop all AI implementation and put it in committee for discussion (community workshops, town hall meetings, public seminars, etc.). This is the one time in my life where discussing something in committee and examining such an enterprise’s possible uses and consequences BEFORE it is implemented is beneficial.</p><p id="537d">Would we have nuclear proliferation today if we had discussed the ramifications, implications and consequences of splitting the atom and weaponising nuclear fission? Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes, but maybe a little wiser with fewer deaths.</p><div id="dcc7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/read-or-die-publication-rules-03813fc16904"> <div> <div> <h2>Read or Die — Publication Rules</h2> <div><h3>Updated January 2024 Guidelines</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*12VP38Uw7-aiufW2DP5Ohw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Off Soapbox

But I am interested in how AI will impact our lives.

Before you think I am an AI hater, I want you to know I am not. The sky will not fall, nor will all of humanity’s troubles be solved because of AI. It is a new technology. It will have (already does) an impact on civilisation. It is here to stay, like it or not.

What follows is a “discussion” I recently had with another writer. Unless something drastic arises in the next few months or more, this is the last you’ll read from me about AI.

The Questions

What are your biggest concerns about AI?

I believe AI will replace jobs in some sectors and not provide other jobs in their stead. Many of the world’s most remarkable technologies, e.g., the printing press, did away with specific jobs (eg., monk scribes) but created other jobs in their wake. But with AI, I see it removing people from jobs, but instead of creating other jobs, I see it creating other opportunities only for itself — a perpetual machine of never-ending job assimilation.

The other aspect is AI’s ability to replace human creativity. AI’s database may originate from human creativity, but AI cannot be creative. AI bots (in their various forms) have been scurrying around the internet for years. Their creators are just getting better at how and where these AI bots work, while improving their output. But no matter how you want to spin it, AI is still “stealing” human created content and rearranging it for fun and profit.

What are your biggest hopes for AI?

There are areas where AI could benefit, like translators, aiding people with certain disabilities, information kiosks, and improving automation, to name a few. My biggest hope is that AI becomes a benefit to civilisation and not a liability.

How to ensure AI is used ethically & responsibly?

Government, corporations and the military would have us believe they have our best interests in mind. That could not be further from the truth. Persuasion, profit and power are their goals. Al will impact all aspects of civilisation. Therefore, all aspects of civilisation should have a say in how it is used, from the ordinary person on the street to the academic in the ivory tower. The passionate extremes we read and see about AI today must be mitigated by careful explanation and honest dialogue.

My Thoughts

No, I will not be replaced, as a writer or as a human, anytime soon by AI. It has a long way to go before that ever happens if it ever does.

I do raise an eyebrow and smirk at those AI prognosticators who want me to believe AI is the end-all, be-all answer to .

Nor is AI all doom and gloom, the beginning of the end and harbinger of Armageddon.

AI is a tool. Like any other tool it can be used for good or ill. Its difficult to think of pliers as a weapon but it has been used that way.

If it were up to me, I would stop all AI implementation and put it in committee for discussion (community workshops, town hall meetings, public seminars, etc.). This is the one time in my life where discussing something in committee and examining such an enterprise’s possible uses and consequences BEFORE it is implemented is beneficial.

Would we have nuclear proliferation today if we had discussed the ramifications, implications and consequences of splitting the atom and weaponising nuclear fission? Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes, but maybe a little wiser with fewer deaths.