Artificial Intelligence is something you would have heard of in the last couple of years. In the recent past, I've had many conversations and discussions with friends and relatives who highly appreciate artificial intelligence. They admire the genius - Elon Musk who seems to be spearheading the research and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I also admire him for his Human Intelligence (HI) moreover his IQ level seems to be at an enviable level. People seem to be in awe of AI despite knowing how AI constantly threatens to take away human jobs. It has already begun to replace humans in various fields rendering some people jobless. For instance, the latest example in my limited knowledge of AI wonders is the AI platform 'Do Not Pay' which will defend a client in court in one of the most powerful democracies - America. The platform also claims that if the AI is unable to defend its client successfully, Do Not Pay will pay the penalty on behalf of the client.
I for one and am not a big fan of AI. I'm in awe of the HI of Elon Musk but not of the AI that these people are so unintelligently creating. One of my close friends argued that AI is inevitable irrespective of what people like me thought of it. Well, that is exactly what I also agree with. But that doesn't make me like it or appreciate it. He even said that my way of thinking is not progressive rather it is regressive. Well, it might be. To add on and explain his point, he even sent a podcast to me in which the well-informed and knowledgeable guest answered questions about the changing world and how AI is evolving too soon. That is exactly what makes me worry for the entire humanity.
I worry that more and more people will become depressed due to AI evolution. Even in that podcast, when the highly informed guest was asked about the type of jobs that shall remain in the future, the first answer was psychiatrist and psychologist. Do you see my point? This is exactly what I think and it is not a sign of a happy future. If people won't have a fruitful, engaging, lucrative activity, how will the 8 billion people or the majority of them survive? If AI can do most or all of the hard and creative skills, then we humans would be deprived of realizing our potential completely. How will humans use the remnants of the brain after the smart gadget revolution?
In the Hindu faith, we are aware of Kaliyug. The era where the demon Kali creates havoc, chaos, and catastrophe. They say that we are in the middle of Kaliyug and this demon shall surface at the peak of Kaliyug. If you observe closely, the demon KALI has an AI in his name. It is a short name, only four letters out of the 26 English letters, and yet AI. I have neither named KALI nor coined the abbreviation AI. Is it just a coincidence? Here is what I would like to coin for your reference and discretion:
K.A.L.I. - Knowledgeable Artificially Living Intellectual
K.A.L.I. - Killing all life instinct
AI will have stages of development, five stages, that's what I have learned so far. Stages range from 0,1,2,3,4. For instance, a car that can drive you to your destination, safely, without you having to lift your finger. All you have to do is feed the required destination information. By the way, such car companies advise that it is a must to sit at the steering wheel with your hands on the wheel so as to avoid any unfortunate, rare mishap. Do you realize what that advice does for the company? It completely takes away all accountability and onus from the car manufacturing company. If one meets with an accident because he/she dozed off or was busy talking with co-passengers, then it is his/her fault. So, on the one hand, such companies literally take away our car driving skills by selling an AI car that self-drives, and on the other hand, they ask us to remain vigilant all the time. Laughable, isn't it? As the stages evolve, so does efficiency. The question is how much efficiency are we aiming at? Over-efficiency is dangerous.
Think about it, a lot of people in this world have cars. How many of us understand the mechanics of this machine? Very few of us do. The one thing we know apparently is driving. These automated cars will take away even that one skill from us. I'd like to quote G.B. Shaw's essay 'How wealth accumulates, and men decay'. I would suggest you to search and read this essay to understand. I also wish to clarify here that I do believe in capitalism however AI is extreme capitalism and nothing extreme is good. Rather let me put it this way, anything extreme is harmful, chaotic, disruptive, and catastrophic.
Here's some more evidence, the genius Elon Musk himself has warned humans that one day AI could outsmart and endanger us He calls it a demon himself. Source: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/ai-the-biggest-existential-threat-to-humankind-says-elon-musk/
Nevertheless, he is also one of the founders of OpenAI which has developed chatbots that can accomplish a lot of tasks for humans in a matter of seconds thus replacing humans who are employed to do those tasks. If this continues in the same fashion, humans will have nothing to do. How on earth (literally) are we going to spend time, and survive? Even worse is when the AI outsmarts humans, AI will overpower us. The creator (human) will be the slave then. By the way, even through these AI gadgets, chatbots, and more, only those who are creating them will become uber-rich. The rest of us will go down the slope.
So what is the solution? Is it possible to escape this KALI? I think it is. Scientists keep innovating, that is their job. Whether we should appreciate each innovation is our choice. This choice is our power against this KALI. Let us not use AI products that are beyond stages 1 or 2. Let us not use any such AI which renders humans completely useless. Let us use and appreciate only those AI gadgets, apps and gizmos which are completely in our control. Let us ensure that AI remains only supplementary to humans, not even complementary.
Next time when you buy or use any AI platform, ask yourself whether want the demon KALI to win and rule or you want to support the KALKI within you?
K - Knowledgeable vs K - Kind
A - Artificially vs A - Artistic
L - Living vs L - Loving
I - Intellectual vs K - Krishna
I - in you
