Former Google engineer Nate Soares has said artificial intelligence could in the future endanger humanity’s very existence. He takes that possibility so seriously that he says he no longer pays into a pension fund and is not saving for retirement. Soares’s statement has put the debate over the risks AI poses to humanity back on the agenda.
Is an AI-driven future really that frightening? What should we expect?
Economist Natiq Cəfərli told Globalinfo.az that such alarming forecasts are increasingly common around the world:
“The management and programming of artificial intelligence are in human hands. This is not something that depends on artificial intelligence itself. At the very least, without electricity, artificial intelligence cannot function. In other words, there is a half-joking, half-serious idea that if you cut off AI’s power, it will stop and be able to do nothing. In that sense, control over its activity is also in human hands.
Yes, there will be certain dangers and problems. But historically, this has happened during every period of technological transition. People have always made frightening forecasts at times of technological change. For example, in the 19th century, when steam engines appeared, workers in Great Britain attacked the machines at night and smashed them for fear of losing their jobs. And what was the result? The spread of steam engines, on the contrary, led to the invention of new equipment and the creation of more jobs.”
Natiq Cəfərli
The expert noted that there are also many myths about artificial intelligence:
“In fact, artificial intelligence can become a human being’s assistant. It can seriously help people in building databases, statistical analysis, writing software and other areas, and can make their work considerably easier. But to put it simply, artificial intelligence will not grow potatoes, will not pull them out of the ground, will not herd cows, will not milk a cow, will not make yogurt or butter from milk. Of course, it can offer certain help in these areas too. But human labor will always be needed, and human labor will retain its value. The issue must be viewed from this angle as well.”
Safura Bannayeva
Globalinfo.az
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