Scare Tactics
If you like to watch sci-fi movies, you may have come across titles that feature AI robots. They are imbued with superhuman powers. They are augmented with state-of-the-art technology. They are determined to hunt and destroy humans. Yikes!
The film industry might have similar formulas to represent AI robots in a dramatic, action-packed, and (sometimes) tearjerking fashion (hello Baymax and Wall-E!). In reality, humans have mixed views about artificial intelligence and robots altogether. Some say AI is the future, as long as it can be ethically made. Others frown upon the notion that they may be more prized than humans. The point is, there is still this inner nagging feeling of both awe and concern.
Four Reasons Why
We have listed 4 reasons why people are still scared of artificial intelligence and robots, even in this digital era. Granted, there may be other reasons why the public is still anxious or apprehensive whenever they hear the word “AI” or “robots.” But these, by far, are the what struck us the most.
Job Replacement
The most popular hindrance for the public to view artificial intelligence in a positive light is job replacement. People are scared that robots will take over their livelihood. And the way this story progresses is evident in the news.
If you’ve ever scrolled into your social media news feed, you might come across self-service checkouts in grocery stores, or toll way RFID passes. These services used to have people—actual humans that assist other humans in their activities. With these systems, the human denominator is removed and replaced by machines.
Trust Issues
AI robots and smart machines are made by humans, which are obviously not perfect and are prone to make errors. The scarier fact is that many rely on artificially intelligent systems for automation. Those that put their hopes very high on the said technology have full trust on it based on its past and present performances.
And there are those who are distrustful of the invention. It is understandable that what you do not know or understand is difficult to put your hopes on, let alone trust. But it is of bigger matter, because your job or business is the one thing that might suffer if you apply artificial intelligence to it.
Existential Crisis
A notable tech tycoon’s ongoing sentiment about artificial intelligence is that it is very smart, it may become more powerful and more intelligent than us humans in the next five years. This view of being an existential threat to humanity is not just pure anxiety, but because the Tesla owner has delved into artificial intelligence and saw its potential.
Musk has had two AI research labs before, and is developing an advance brain implant that can convert brain activity with understandable computer jargon. Now, it is scarier, because of security issues of it having wireless connectivity, but Musk said it will be the answer to this existential crisis between humans and robots.
World Domination
This, by far, is a farfetched reason as to why people are apprehensive about AI robots. Though this is the case, there is still the notion that machines will overtake us humans, with their interests at hand. They might suddenly collectively thought that humans are lesser and problematic creatures that need to be disposed of.
With the current development of AI, where intelligent agents can learn many tasks unlike being stuck to one objective, this may look like it could pose a threat. Add to this the stigma created from imaginative movies like the successful Terminator franchise. The element of scare is pretty much high up.
Four Solutions How
With these threatening impressions, you might probably think there is no way out of it. Luckily, we have also come up with viable solutions to ease your hypertension whenever you come across the word “artificial intelligence” and “robots”.
New Job Opportunities
When an out-of-date occupation goes extinct because of new technologies or policies, new job opportunities will arise. Decades ago, computer science and IT is still in its infantile phase. Nowadays, jobs unheard of before, like big data engineers, mobile app developers, and systems manager, all entail a high pay.
Also, companies in the said industry are soaring to be the top enterprises in the whole world. Other businesses with different nature (like retail and healthcare) also incorporate IT technology in their systems, workforce, and services. It’s true that the job trend will shift from having menial work to coding with numbers and letters, but this kind of change has been observed since time immemorial.
Positive Awareness
It is true that there will be trust issues with artificial intelligence. While this is the case, positive awareness is the key in minimize a bad impression of AI by the public. AI must still have been a taboo word for most of the old population who do not even know how to operate a smartphone. But once they get to understand the importance of AI, they might change their views on the said technology.
The public should also be aware that AI does not only connote famous chatbots like Alexa or Siri, but they are also being used in social media and in other things we use everyday.
Develop Synergistic Technology
Musk, the Tesla mogul, might be a bit paranoid about his future view towards AI, but he undeniably has a point. If it were the case, then it is just logical and cautionary to invent something that would solve this existential crisis.
Currently, he is in the works with Neuralink, a synergistic brain chip that would somehow link humans and future robots to cooperative with each other in solving problems and improving our way of life.
Robot Ethics
So far the most advance AI technique to date is reinforced learning, wherein humans train robots to learn and think on their own. Without human input and effort, AI robots still come a long ways of dominating us. But there is a big fat BUT in this: whatever you teach the robot, the robot processes, BUT what if someone teaches a robot vile things?
This is where robot ethics and robot laws enter the scene. AI robots should be made ethically, with the human interest and safety in mind. Currently, there are symposiums and conferences being held to talk about and implement such issues.
Wrap Up
The fear of the unknown really move people to come up with reasons to fill their irrational minds. While this is human nature, a good understanding of this uncertainty is how we will be able to overcome this fear.
And this is not foreign with artificial intelligence, which is a complicated computation of sorts. There are reasons why people fear AI, with most being job unemployment. While this may be the case, there are workarounds for us to thrive together with robots and not to dismiss their potential.
