AI RELATED TECHNOLOGY
Why are Human Beings Threatened by Artificial Intelligence?
These AI stories and films illustrate mankind’s fear of technology!
Nowadays, you can’t click on a site or open up an email, without bumping into a conversation about AI (artificial intelligence).
It’s only natural for human beings to be curious, as well as vocal, when it comes to their views on technology.
And folks, there’s nothing more technology-focused in today’s society, than our use of artificial intelligence.
Let’s discuss it further…
What exactly is AI?
If you were to ask the experts at IBM, about the definition of AI, you’d be given the statement that is found on their website:
“Artificial intelligence leverages computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind”.
Some of IBM’s information on the subject, points to a well recognized textbook titled: Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (published by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig).
The book discusses four potential goals or definitions of AI. It delves into what the two men identified as:
“The Human approach” (whereby systems think, and/or act like humans) and the “Ideal approach” (whereby systems think, and/or act rationally)
With that information in mind, it’s easy to see how artificial intelligence has become integrated into so much of our current technology.
For decades, everyone from experts in the field of philosophy, to creators of science fiction, have been focused on the subject of artificial intelligence.
As the years have progressed, the rest of the world seems to have become just as interested.
Perhaps it’s because more and more, we see AI rapidly becoming a reality in our society.
In fact, if you THINK you’re one of the individuals that claims to be anti-AI, think again.
Just test yourself and see…
What does AI mean to you?
What exactly comes to mind, when you see the letters or phrase: AI, or artificial intelligence?
Chances are, it depends on who you are, what you enjoy, or what your profession happens to be.
For instance:
If you’re among the many professional writers and actors who went out on the picket lines in 2023, AI might conjure up images of unfair contracts, related to your wages.
One NBC news report on the subject wrote this in their article (Actors vs. AI: Strike brings focus to emerging use of advanced tech):
“…artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions, and all actors and performers deserve contract language that protects them from having their identity and talent exploited without consent and pay.”
That quote was taken from Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
Clearly, these are very real concerns for writers and those in the entertainment industry.
But is it really as bad as all that? Some might wonder whether Drescher exaggerated by saying:
“If we don’t stand tall right now, we are all going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines,”
Many readers might actually find that statement to be laughable, especially when you consider the various AI films where things get out of control.
Remember these:
An old 1959 Twilight Zone episode called: “From Agnes with Love”, tells the story of a computer, known as Agnes.
When it breaks down, “.. the company calls in a master programmer James Elwood. Agnes and Elwood quickly develop a rapport and the machine takes to giving him advice about his love life. Surprisingly, Agnes has her own agenda.
1987 “RoboCop” movie about a cyborg, which is essentially consists of a robot (basically a computer) that also contains human biology.
Apparently among mankind’s fears about artificial intelligence, is the loss of our humanity.
Actor LeVar Burton from the popular Star Trek (Next Generation) series, directed the 1999 Disney movie: “Smart House”.
A teenager wins a fully-automated dream house that ultimately ends up with the computer named PAT, controlling and taking over for awhile.
Who could forget the 2004 “I Robot” movie, starring Will Smith.
He plays a 2035, technophobic cop, investigating a crime that may have been perpetrated by a robot. The scary part comes into play, when the robots decide to have an uprising.
“Her “ was a 2013 American science-fiction romantic drama — starring Joaquin Phoenix.
According to the writer, the idea for this story was born in the early 2000s, when the writer read an article about a website that allowed users to instant message with an artificial intelligence program.
Once again, a character develops a relationship with an AI named Samantha, with diabolical results.
“I Am Mother” is a 2018 film about a teenage girl that is raised by a robot “mother”, who is designed to repopulate the earth.
More recently, there’s the 2022 horror movie called “Margaux”. A group of college friends rent a smart house for a weekend of partying. But of course, the the house has a super advanced AI system named Margaux, and her motives are anything but good.
The 2023 movie “Motion Detected” is yet one more example, illustrating humankind’s fears regarding artificial intelligence.
Take one victim of a terrifying home invasion, and move her to what she thinks is a safer home; a smart house, complete with a home security system that starts to take over her life.
All of the above films might have been made purely for entertainment value, but no one can deny that many legitimate and thought provoking issues were raised.
Could any of these over-the-top scenarios be the reason that some humans feel threatened by artificial intelligence?
It’s true; millions may have fell in love with Siri, Alexa, Google Talk, Ring, and other apps and devices that appear to make life a lot better for human beings.
But not everyone is convinced of just how great it is to have robotic computers running things for us.
At what point, should we start to be truly concerned about how much control we’re turning over to artificial intelligence?
AI conversations are abundant online
If the films listed above cause you even the least bit of concern — you’re not alone, just like those writers and entertainment professionals who worry about this topic.
Online discussions about AI are heating up and many people are feeling extremely opinionated about the subject.
Even some of our newest members are taking a crack at writing on the subject. Notice what writer Ahsan Jawed said in:
Deepfake Technology is Dangerous: The Dark Side of AI.
Other stories about artificial intelligence come from heavy hitters on Medium, like writer Clive Thompson.
He recently wrote a 9-minute story called: AI Is Thirsty. Then, there’s the story by Linda Caroll titled: I Asked ChatGPT How To Earn $1000 Online. It Was Hilarious.
As we can see, the whole conversation surrounding AI is getting much more in depth.
At some point, we’ll all be involved, in one way or another, even if all you do is use your car’s GPS.
TAKEAWAY
What’s happening in the world is fluid, as it relates to artificial intelligence.
Things are constantly being assessed, and new rules are being considered, as AI manages to come into contact with every thing we do in the course of our lives.
Needless to say, many of our fears may be warranted, but that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to make technological advances in society.
From what I can tell, AI is just like any and everything else that involves mankind’s journey into the unknown.
Everything we do is trial and error, until we finally get it right.
Thanks for reading…
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