Monkeys are smart, but humans are smarter; this all has to do with our perception of our environment, our adaptability, and unique ability to learn, process, manipulate and control the elements within the environment around us (including other living things) and that is exactly what artificial intelligence is about, except the endgame is to surpass even the intelligence of humans.
WHAT IS AI?
Artificial intelligence is a machine-exhibited intelligence, as opposed to intelligence displayed by humans and animals (natural intelligence). AI is programmed to imitate human cognitive functions; these functions include the following:
- Learning
- Processing
- Speech recognition
- Problem solving
Established as an academic discipline in 1956, AI’s introduction has received an optimistic reception, but has experienced setbacks and disappointment too; particularly the loss of funding popularly known as AI winter.
The aim and scope of AI is plagued with disputes and controversies, one of which is called the AI effect.
Despite the setbacks and controversies, AI has made considerable strides, from understanding human speech; it has reached the level of autonomous cars, robotics, strategic game intelligence, and military simulation. But it doesn’t stop there, today’s AI is known as weak AI, because it is designed to perform only individual specific tasks (drive a car, speech recognition etc.), but in the long run, the aim of most scientists for AI is for it to be able to mimic all human cognitive functions and become even smarter than humans; this is known as strong AI.
AI WINTER
AI winter was a period in the history of AI in which there was reduced interest in AI, as a result causing a reduction in funding. It is regarded as the period when governments and ventured capitalists lost enthusiasm for AI. Despite these ups and downs, AI has continued to thrive with new technologies being released year in, year out. Researcher Rodney Brooks stated in 2002 that, “there’s this stupid myth out there that AI has failed, but AI is around you every second of the day.” However, that was a long time ago, and interest has resurged in AI since the start of the 2000’s; a primary reason why Ray Kurzweil writes: “the AI winter is long since over.”
AI EFFECT
The AI effect occurs when people, especially critics of AI, discredit and fail to acknowledge the actions of AI, claiming it’s not real intelligence. The claim goes deeper to the belief that whenever a task is completed by AI, then it is a single-minded individual action, that doesn’t require solving by the AI again. In 1997, Garry Kasparov, the World Chess Champion was defeated by “Deep Blue” (IBM’s chess-playing computer), there was an uproar by critics, saying it only used physical force, with no deeper strategic thought.
Scientist believe that the process of creating an intelligence stronger than natural intelligence is in itself a cognitive function, and that, subsequently, strong AI would be represented by creating their colleagues without assistance. This self-regeneration potential could be a step towards an intelligence explosion that will leave human intelligence extinct. It is their belief that strong AI could be pivotal in eradicating war, disease, poverty, and famine and that it could be the greatest event in the history of mankind.
CRITICISM OF AI
Since its inception, AI has faced many expressions of fear and criticisms, but how legitimate are they?
- Unemployment: Critics are worried that in the long run, the achievement of the “perfect” AI may result in almost everybody being out of a job. Though it’s true that the creation of a super-intelligent machine will most likely eliminate some jobs, some experts believe the pros outweigh the cons.
- Unpredictability: If AI gets to a stage of self-regeneration and cursive self-improvement, its actions will be unpredictable and humans could be in danger of being the creators of their own misfortune, yet some people scientists believe the creation of strong AI is set to be more beneficial, and that even if there were a possibility for such an occurrence, research and proper study into this possibility will help to prepare for such contingencies.
- Lack of Emotion: The inability of AI to feel emotions or sentiments could result in it being used negatively, according to critics, they believe its usage in law enforcement or the military coupled with its potential to self-improve and self-generate could result in some kind of remorseless revolt, and that mankind could be in danger. Consideration by experts on how AI might be a risk includes two possibilities:
(a). When AI is programmed for an evil purpose: AI programs in the form of autonomous weapons, which are designed to kill, could be dangerous in the hands of the wrong individuals. That chance aside, properly-designed AI could be programmed to do anything, and as a result could have a devastating impact.
(b). Achievement of Task through any means: AI programs developed to get tasks done at all cost tend to engage in any method, even if the cause is not beneficial.
- Playing God: Some set of critics believe the creation of AI is an attempt to recreate life by humans and an attempt that may result in serious repercussions. The creation of a higher intelligence could result in a rebellion by AI and the eventual domination of human beings.
MYTHS
There are many myths about AI, some of which are:
- AI turning evil: The thoughts of most technophobes in regard to AI turning evil is influenced by their consumption of fiction. The real concern for AI is not its turning evil, but rather its overall effectiveness.
- Attainment of strong AI in this century: According to a lot of researchers, it’s a fantasy to even consider the idea of strong AI existing in this century, it’s an attainment that is still most likely hundreds of years away, however, some researchers believe it will happen before 2060.
- AI developing emotions: You can definitely hear the movies talking in this case, some people have based their arguments on motion pictures, but research shows clearly that there’s no way a machine could develop sentiment or consciousness.
FINAL THOUGHTS
AI embodies the whole existence of digitalization and virtualization. AI is very much alive today and the truth is even if it’s emotionless, it is fully conscious – we interact with it every day, from the android to the PC, the internet, even common things like web hosting, for instance; www.domains4less.co.nz engages in domain transfer, which makes use of AI. Even the critics couldn’t do without these commonplace things. The reality is, our world as we know it is changing and so must we.
