2023 is the year of AI. It’s the most powerful technological advancement since the internet.
But like all new things, it’s exciting and terrifying at the same time. It will transform the arts, medicine, education and society itself. But we still don’t know where it will take us.
Dr Ruth Freeman, director of science research foundation Science for Society, said: “AI will be part of that future. AI is here now and it’s not going anywhere. It can improve and enhance our lives, but there are downsides. What are they and how can we have our say, not just scientists?”
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Here’s Dr Ruth Freeman’s guide to what AI is about:
What is AI? “AI stands for Artificial intelligence. It is the science that makes machines think like humans. It can behave like a human, and is also capable of decision making. But it can process large amounts of data and recognise patterns, unlike humans.”
Why do we need it? “Because it mimics human behaviour, it can solve complex problems. Examples of this include automating routine work and medical scans. It can keep us healthy, and address biodiversity issues.
“It is used for fraud prevention, from credit card fraud to identifying fake reviews as well as areas of education, driverless cars to photo and creative editing.”
How is it being legislated? “Governments and regulators need to ensure AI is safe. It has to be regulated against adverse outcomes. They will have their work cut out, because they have to legislate for the real physical world and the digital world. It’s transnational, so it affects everyone around the globe.”
How do we ensure it is safe? “It sounds complex, but you don’t want AI to self-replicate. Society also has to have a say in its progression. Efforts have to be made to mitigate bias, toxicity and harmful outputs.”
Do we need to be afraid of AI? “No, we’ll still need humans. The fact that it is happening so fast creates anxiety. Also people feel they have no control over its pace. That’s why we’re talking about it. Go to events, chat about it. Society needs to protect what we value as humans.”
How does my involvement work? “We need to get on top of the pacing problem and reclaim agency. There have to be publicly funded scientists and a connection between ordinary people and science. There has to be a human in the loop. The future is AI, but human too.
Mystery and fear needs to be taken away. There have to be frameworks, feedback, citizens assemblies and conversations.”
Do I have a say in AI? “Engage with events like Science Week. Also keep an eye out for initiatives on your fundamental rights. We need people to get involved.”
Will it take away my job? “AI will create tremendous opportunities in work. Not just for scientists, but across the spectrum. Technology enables machinery so certain jobs will disappear. AI may displace some jobs, but it is just as likely to result in the creation of new jobs too, just like other forms of progress.”
Is it going to take over the world? “AI is here, and it’s not going back. It is the future, but we can make it work for us. AI is designed to help us, It is in its infancy so now is a pivotal time to use it to our advantage.“
Last week Elon Musk renewed calls for regulations on artificial intelligence during an on-stage conversation with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Back in March, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were signatories on an open letter, signed by more than 2,600 tech industry leaders and researchers, calling for a temporary halt on any further AI development.
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