AI – Rise, Relay, Move.

Back when computers were the size of small cars and well before the internet was available to the public, there came the release of a sci-fi film by the name of 2001: Space Odyssey. It was an entry into the man vs. machine genre that dates back to at least 1927. The common theme? Machines attempting to destroy mankind. Fast forward to 2024 where most people have a computer that not only will fit into their back pocket but possess more computing power than what was used to land men on the moon. One wonders what another 50 years might bring? The news gave us a hint as it reported that one of Elon Musk’s company Neuralink had successfully implanted a small chip that could interface with the human brain. Remarkable to say the least. I was excited to the point of tears as they talked about the applications benefiting individuals like me who are quadriplegic. As I delved deeper into the subject, it led to a debate on the emerging technology of AI. First introduced to the masses as a software program called ChatGTP. A relatively harmless program that helps you to write such things as term papers, articles, and emails. Other companies quickly followed suit with the likes of Bard, Copilot, Poe, and many others. So far AI is being presented as a benevolent tool that we can choose to use or not. One article even was careful to only use the term Generative AI, pitting blue-collar workers against white-collar workers. White-collar or otherwise what they call cognitive workers were the only ones who were expected to be displaced by Generative AI, or so we are left to believe. AI is believed will correct what many consider to be a disproportionate distribution of wealth. The article mentioned that a group of researchers by the name of Eloundou et al. They caution that as much as 49% of the workforce may become jobless due to AI. It’s like being forced to train your replacement in many ways. In light of this statistic, I find it hard to see how only white-collar workers will be affected. More than likely, we are looking at what is known as unforeseen consequences which occur when something that is expected to be good is not completely thought out. One of the biggest benefits of AI is supposed to be its ability to increase productivity. A huge reason why industry is so attracted to it. But businesses need to ask themselves the question: who is going to buy all this increased production if 49% of the workforce is unemployed? I don’t doubt that AI can offer some technological advances we might otherwise not make. I’m not opposed to its development as long as there are the proper safeties put in place. However, the ability of AI to learn and improve itself appears to me to be something out of a sci-fi movie, the proverbial double-edged sword. There seems to be a rush to bring us groundbreaking innovation, with no thought being given to the consequences. A host of notable scientists are warning us that danger looms and that strict guidelines, protocols, and legislation need to be in place before AI continues to be more pervasive. As one site so succinctly put it, “… the fate of the universe hangs in the balance.”