Artificial Intelligence (AI) is practically everywhere including our phones that help us take that perfect pic & cars that drive themselves. As exciting as it is, many people are worried about it—especially here in the USA. Why the long faces? Here are ten reasons why we should fear AI.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
Job Automation and Economic Displacement
Robots & AI systems are doing jobs that humans used to do, including managing stock portfolios and creating websites. As such, many jobs will be on the chopping block. People will go to school for years—only to find out a computer program can do their job faster. It’s a big deal here in America because a lot of our economy is built on these kinds of jobs.
Privacy Concerns with Surveillance Technologies
Let’s talk about privacy – or the lack thereof. With AI, companies & governments can keep an eye on us like never before by tracking where we go and working out what we like to eat. It’s all getting a bit Big Brother for comfort. We Americans really value our freedom and such surveillance feels like someone’s always watching over your shoulder.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Bias in AI Algorithms
AI’s only as fair as the data it learns from. If the data’s biased, the AI’s decisions will be too and this could stop certain people from getting a job interview because of where they live. Worse, they might be unfairly targeted by law enforcement algorithms. It’s a real issue that’ll hit American communities hard and especially those that have faced discrimination in the past.
Dependence on AI Systems
Most of us feel like we can’t live without our smartphones—now imagine that but with everything. As we rely more on AI, we also become more vulnerable if these systems go down and it’s an especially serious problem in America. We love being at the forefront of tech. As such, it could mean big trouble if we’re not prepared for a technological meltdown.
The Arms Race in Lethal Autonomous Weapons
Killer robots seem rather sci-fi but they’re a very real issue. These machines could decide to engage targets without a human saying so—and that’s quite an ethical issue. The USA has a massive military and is right in the middle of figuring out how to deal with this new kind of warfare without starting a terrifying robot arms race.
Increasing Inequality
AI’s great if you have access to the latest tech and know how to use it. Sadly, not everyone does and this digital divide could make the gap between the haves & have-nots even wider. We’re already wrestling with inequality in America—further divides would mean some people are left way behind in the AI dust.
Manipulation Through AI-Generated Content
Thanks to AI, creating fake but convincing content is easier than ever and this will create all manner of problems. For example, people could spread false information—and there’d be no way of telling. One minute you’re watching a video of a politician saying something they never really said and the next thing you know, it’s everywhere and changing public opinion based on a lie. What’s even real anymore?
Acceleration of Cyber Attacks
Hackers + AI = a recipe for disaster. AI will make cyberattacks more sophisticated & harder to stop. America is already a big target for cyber criminals which might mean more frequent and severe attacks. It’d affect everything from our banks to our power grids. Rather than just being inconvenienced, it’s millions of people’s safety & security at stake.
Ethical Concerns in AI Decision-Making
What happens if AI denies someone medical treatment or makes a mistake in the stock market? Understanding the ethics of AI decision-making is a lot of hassle and sadly something Americans are struggling with as AI starts to play a bigger role. Should we blame the developer? The company using AI? We just don’t know.
The Control Problem and AI Superintelligence
It may seem far-fetched but we have to think about what will happen when AI gets smarter than us and decides it doesn’t need us around. Making sure AI stays under control is rather important and especially in the USA because we often push the boundaries of what’s possible with tech. We have no idea what will happen if we create something we can’t control.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
