Artificial Intelligence, Boon or Bane?

Introduction to AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and copy their actions. This may also be applicable to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human mind such as learning and problem-solving. From SIRI to self-driving cars, AI is progressing rapidly. While science fiction often portrays AI as robots with human-like characteristics, AI can enclose anything from Google’s search algorithms to automatic weapons.

Benefits

AI’s impact on society can be beneficial for research in many areas. Topics such as economics, law, technical topics such as verification, validity, security and control can be improved so much with the help of AI.  it may be little more than a minor nuisance if your laptop crashes or gets hacked, it becomes all the more important that an AI system does what you want it to do if it controls cars, airplanes, automated trading systems or a power grid. Another short-term challenge is preventing a devastating arms race in dangerous automated weapons.

Artificial Intelligence can also be used in performing surgeries which require precision. It can also be helpful in performing tasks which are difficult for humans to perform. As technology advances, previous landmarks that defined artificial intelligence become outdated. For example, machines that calculate basic functions or recognize text through character recognition are no longer considered to embody artificial intelligence, since this function is now taken for granted as a basic computer function.

Disadvantages

When misused, AI has the potential to become the most dangerous weapon humans have ever seen. Autonomous weapons are automated weapons that are programmed to kill. In the hands of wrong people, this weapon can easily be a medium for mass destruction. Moreover, AI arms race can cause an AI war which can also cause mass causalities.

Even if AI is programmed to do something beneficial, but it develops a destructive method to achieve its goals. For example, when we ask an AI powered car to take us in the fastest way possible, it can break several traffic rules and speed limits to help us reach our destination. It can run over people or damage the vehicle. AI is very difficult to tame once it learns to think like humans. So, we should be very careful while handing over our future to the hands of artificial intelligence.