Imagine a world where your car drives itself, your doctor predicts illnesses before they arise, and an assistant can give you all the answers. While this is possible, today’s AI is called “weak AI” due to its limitations. However, instituting a stronger AI is in our future. AI today can only beat humans in a handful of skills, but it is expected that it will beat humans in all cognitive tasks in the future. This can bring great outcomes, but can also be negative. As YLHS teacher Ms. Waltemeyer (S) says, “In simple terms, AI can be used as a tool or a toy.” (Simplilearn)
In order to fully understand the future of AI, we need to first understand what AI is and where it is now. AI, which stands for Artificial Intelligence, is a technology that allows computers to mimic human intelligence and perform human tasks. AI has 3 categories based on capabilities: Narrow AI, General AI, and Super AI. Today, AI is only General AI or Weak AI since it is only able to comprehend specific jobs.
Futurists predict that AI will completely take over advertising, transportation, cybersecurity, finance, education, and healthcare. However, with AI being so advanced, there are multiple concerns about where it may lead. For example, where will these unemployed people go if AI takes over these jobs?
On the counter-argument, one could also say that, like Google, AI will soon be implemented into our daily lives. From an educator’s standpoint, Ms. Waltemeyer (S) states, “Similar to ChatGTP, in the ’90s and early 2000’s, many people feared the impacts Google would have on education when it first became mainstream…Now, Google is simply part of our lives, and we as a human race have had to adapt and mold our creative and critical thinking skills to properly utilize this level of technology.”
One of AI’s biggest goals and concerns is consciousness. To date, this is one of AI engineers’ biggest mysteries. If and when AI gains consciousness, it could help humans discover more about life and this world, answer big questions, and discover new inventions. At least that’s what experts hope Artificial Intelligence would do if it ever gains consciousness. The other aspect and question is what if AI goes against the human race? For now, AI is not smarter than the human brain, but if and when one day it is, that will be the peak of Artificial Intelligence.
With constant discoveries and inventions, the future is something no one can predict. Artificial Intelligence will keep flourishing and growing for better or for worse. Ms. Waltemeyer (S) believes “it is truly a two-edged sword” that sharpens as time goes on.
