User:HakariTheGambler

The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
What is AI specifically? Artificial intelligence (AI) integrates an element of human intelligence into machines. This subsequently programs them to be interchangeable with humans - they have a mind like humans, they emulate meticulous work abilities like humans, and they are autonomous like humans. The main idea of AI is to significantly enhance human capabilities and contributions to society’s progressions. But, as AI continues to progress and become universal rapidly,  so are premonitions and skepticisms of AI's future.

These fears stem from one general thought: Artificial Intelligence’s potential capabilities of overshadowing mankind. From our perspective, we see AI as one of the most transformative technologies we have ever created and seen in the history of humanity; but, such impressive feats of artificial intelligence’s transformative power are something we’re worried about. This paper will focus on the main crux of AI, specifically two major concerns.

Two Major Concerns

 * 1) Utilizing Artificial Intelligence as weapons for war purposes.   -It could most likely incite an arms race between multiple countries  -This could elicit ethical concerns  -This could also lead them to becoming weapons of mass destruction


 * Mass job automation incited by Artificial Intelligence

-There would be a negative affect on unemployment rates

-A company with only AI workers could lead them to be compromised by cybercriminals

Artificial Intelligence in War
There’s been a myriad of conceptualizations made by the military that involves the integration of machines in battle. AI, with its transformative potential, poses dangers to its usage in war. For instance, the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems. In other words, militaristic machines are completely capable of engaging targets without human supervision or regulation. This could engender an arms race between multiple, immense countries that contains massive investments, including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Israel, which have made artificial intelligence for military application (Folly).

Though an arms race hasn’t manifested into reality yet, the integration of AI into battle has already emerged, which is the creation of Military-Grade (or Weapons-Grade) AI. What is Military AI? As the name suggests, it is an AI applied in the military that is utilized for combative operations. They’re an entirely autonomous entity that operates independently without human oversight. Examples of military AI are drones and robots. Military AI has greater power and capabilities than standard weapons systems, which makes them a valuable asset for war. There are various problems with integrating weaponry systems in AI for war purposes.

Giving weapons to machines devoid of having feelings or understanding feelings, would engender a series of ethical and moral problems - it goes against international humanitarian laws. Killing a human life, even in war, requires boundaries. Another issue would be its independent system. If Military AI is entirely autonomous and doesn’t require human intervention, then there’s a chance that machines may go rogue and target innocent people at random. With their lethal weapons, they could potentially be weapons of mass destruction that would resonate with calamity across the globe.

Conversely, artificial intelligence is not as expensive as nuclear arms nor are their materials hard to gain; consequently, they could proliferate in quantity and may eventually reach the hands of the black market or terrorist collectives that may take leverage of them for heinous crimes. Overall, integrating AI in the military to serve as potential war combatants can be catastrophic for humanity, it could incite war between a myriad of countries over military and political power, kill innocent lives, and bring unethical predicaments.

Job Automation
Not only does AI bring harm internationally, but also domestically - specifically, automation may be prevalent and negatively impact a plethora of workplaces. Job automation refers to substituting humans with technology for human labor to perform specific tasks. Automation involves mechanization (machines in a broader term). If automation becomes prevalent, then it could surely entail consequences, such as reducing the opportunities for humans to find and work at a specific job. In a study case back in 2019 by the Brookings Institution study, 36 million people work in jobs with “high exposure” to automation, meaning that before long at least 70 percent of their tasks — ranging from retail sales and market analysis to hospitality and warehouse labor — will be done using AI. An even newer Brookings report concludes that white-collar jobs may be most at risk. And to a 2018 report from McKinsey & Company, the African American workforce will be the hardest hit (Thomas).

Not only that, but it could take over other jobs outside of white-collar jobs. A new HSBC Global Research report found that these types of jobs each have a greater than 90% chance of being displaced due to automation within roughly the next 10 years. These jobs include cooks, construction workers, retail salespeople, receptionists, waiters, etc. Most of these jobs are low-skilled, hence the increase of automation is growing as it saves employment costs. There was a 2020 report encompassing jobs from the World Economic Forum that predicted that by 2025, approximately 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, yet 97 million new roles may emerge. Construction, manufacturing, and logistical jobs are the most susceptible to being hit by automation, as these three jobs require constant, and consistent physical labor.

Humans are finite in terms of energy, strength, and endurance; conversely, machines do not have those kinds of limitations exclusive to the human body. Thus, the number of machines in those three major jobs would be prominent, as machines have limitless energy and aren’t prone to injury, unlike humans. This saves an abundance amount of money for companies when it comes to paying for workplace injuries or being sued by an employee that’s been harmed while working in an environment that poses danger for them. However, not all jobs in those areas would be replaced by machines, some roles may be more immune. For instance, a role whose skills require meticulous, idea generation, problem-solving, or people management.

Not only does job automation brings the risk of harming job employment for humans, but machines in workplaces could be vulnerable to cyber-attacks. There will most likely be circumstances where hackers may compromise machines that have access and privileges. Hacking these machines would give these hackers access to acquiring quantities of confidential data in a company. This could consequently lead to hackers gaining the opportunity to subvert a company or even blackmail them, hence the risks of automation.

We must take action now!
Everyone, especially those working in technological fields must take into account major issues about Artificial Intelligence’s cons more than its pros. These machines could have the potential to be assets in militaries, which could consequently entail arms races, and ethical issues, and could potentially become weapons of mass destruction that could end humanity if we don’t take proper measures to limit them. Not only that, but AI can effectively impact multiple job fields where humans predominate - such as construction fields, logistical fields, manufacturing, etc.

If humans are entirely replaced by machines, people will lose their jobs and there would be fewer opportunities for the unemployed to find jobs for themselves; additionally, machines in the workplace could most likely be vulnerable to cyber attacks, as cybercriminals could compromise these machines and gain access to personal data; consequently undermining and damaging companies for their benefit. With these concerns being addressed and illuminated, we must work together, deliberate on these issues, and concoct ways to solve these issues and avert any danger that could arise.