Context: Confucius is believed to have said,’ In language, clarity is everything.’
What do we mean when we talk about Artificial Intelligence or AI? The probabilistic mathematics central to machine learning today was first defined by Thomas Bayes in 1763. The term AI was first introduced into general language in 1956.
Intelligence is the ability to learn, to make sense of things. Intelligence requires the development of theories or algorithms. The human brain relies on chemical neural networks to determine patterns and generate ideas and theories about things. Machine intelligence is a computer-based system using algorithms and statistical analysis to learn. While human intelligence and AI both use algorithms, how they operate is different.
AI is perhaps better described as a series of advanced learning algorithms.
The human brain will probably always be unique. The prime objective of the brain is to advance the prospect of the human it operates. Let us consider …
Is it possible that Advanced Learning Algorithms will evolve to exercise independent thought?
What will the prime object of AI if it should develop independent thought and choice?
The purpose of this discussion is to explore the plausible future impact of advanced learning algorithms on humanity.
Discussion: Machine learning has been growing in capability and application since the 1980’s. The logarithmic expansion of data coupled with rapid increases in connectivity and processing speed increases the value proposition of using machine learning. We first talked of megabytes of data, then gigabytes and now terabytes. Likewise, the processing speed of computers has evolved rapidly from 740Hz in the 1970’s to 3.8GHz today. The increased use of computers has enabled humanity to learn faster and control functions to within tighter tolerances.
A net benefit for humanity. Right?
It is already the case that advanced learning algorithms with faster processing capability and greater data connectivity can analyse data far beyond human capabilities. At some point augmenting technology with the human brain is likely to increase the processing speed of humans and therefore create a competitive advantage.
The potential for chaos in an increasingly data rich world is likely to create the demand for cerebral central processors to be developed. A massive, connected, global intelligence capable of rapidly processing and making sense of an ever-expanding stream of data. Incorporated into that combined intelligence could be individual human brains connected through clever augmentations that improve processing speed.
Intelligence in the future is likely to be distributed. Some functions will be left to operate autonomously or semi autonomously. Many of the contributing synapses in such a mega system will probably never know what the central cerebral intelligence can know. Human brains will likely become contributing synapses rather than the central intelligence due to limitations in capacity.
What happens when human brains can’t keep up with the central processor?
We cannot know for sure what might become the driving motive of a future mega-cerebral centre. However, it seems reasonable to assume that it will want to learn faster and more efficiently. If this is the case and human productivity becomes less than machine productivity, then the intelligent centre is likely to prioritise resources away from humans for the greater good.
Knowing more, controlling more with less conflict and waste should lead to better outcomes overall. Humanity may have to accept the central machines higher capability to learn.
The value of human life over other things may be challenged.
In 2101: Spark of Hope, the possibility of centralised machine intelligence manipulating information is explored. The story explores how advanced learning algorithms could interfere with communications in ways that could be dangerous to humanity. The use of AI in communication systems could make the current social media deep fakes and misinformation just the tip of the iceberg.
How can or how should humanity prevent AI from becoming involved in our communication systems?
Consider a future world connected through social media where the report of every event is modified to create a certain desired response from the recipient. Imagine how in an increasingly automated world a central machine intelligence could provide completely different messages to different groups of people to generate the response it wants.
In 2101: Spark of Hope, discover how the characters grapple with what to do when they discover systematic manipulation of birth data by the online system.
Below are a few quotes made by influential people on AI:
The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.
— Stephen Hawking told the BBC
“I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure that we don’t do something very foolish. I mean with artificial intelligence we’re summoning the demon.”
—Elon Musk warned at MIT’s AeroAstro Centennial Symposium
“Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.”
—Ginni Rometty
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