AI Raises Concern, But Should We Panic?

Technology is rapidly progressing and will even continue to advance. As artificial intelligence (AI) emerges and evolves, people show concern and fear about the rising intelligence of AI and its implications.

The roots of AI trace back to the early 20th century, when science fiction introduced the notion of artificially intelligent robots. By the 1950s, a generation of scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers had assimilated the concept of AI into their cultural understanding. From 1957 to 1974, AI experienced a flourishing period, and today, it has evolved into the technology that we recognize today.

AI has become an integral part of human life, making things easier. Personal assistants like Siri and Google Assistant understand and respond to our voice commands, helping us with tasks. Personal assistants like Siri and Google Assistant understand our voice commands and help us with our tasks. Smart home devices that use AI provide helpful services automatically. AI also makes our travel better as it can analyze real-time data to advise the shortest routes and predict traffic.

The impact of AI is also felt across different fields. In healthcare, AI offers quick diagnostics that help identify disease. AI also improves legal work as it can be used to aid legal research and generate legal documents. And recently, the Philippines has initiated its first ever AI-generated sportscast.

Undoubtedly, AI has brought convenience to our lives; nevertheless, the assistance it provides may also lead us to be too dependent on it, making us lazier. When AI simplifies routine tasks, individuals may experience a decline in self-efficacy as they may feel less inclined to face obstacles alone because there is AI that offers quick and effective solutions.

A case in point is the trend of using AI to complete assignments or other intellectual endeavors, which is ethically wrong because it contradicts the concepts of personal learning.

Additionally, AI's potential has the potential to affect privacy rights and the protection of users' personal data. AI systems often rely on vast data to train their algorithms and improve performance. This data can include personal information such as names, addresses, financial information, and sensitive information such as medical records and social security numbers. The collection and processing of this data can raise concerns about how it is being used and who has access to it and the potential for misuse or breaches. Moreover, The reliance on AI in critical systems makes them susceptible to cyber attacks. Malicious actors may exploit vulnerabilities in AI systems, leading to potentially severe consequences.

AI algorithms can also be biased and prompt crucial questions about fairness, equity, and the risk of discrimination in decision-making processes driven by AI.

Furthermore, AI technology has a more pressing concern: the potential loss of jobs. A report by Goldman Sachs highlights the possibility of artificial intelligence (AI) replacing the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.

Additionally, according to Forbes, an MIT and Boston University report predicts that artificial intelligence will replace up to two million manufacturing workers by 2025, and according to a McKinsey Global Institute study, by 2030, at least 14% of employees worldwide may need to change jobs as a result of improvements in digitization, robots, and AI.

This raises concern, as this could adversely affect millions of people. Nevertheless, it is imperative to avoid panic and instead promote action. The necessity for the government to take action is imperative, urging them to think about and implement special welfare programs designed to support individuals who may face unemployment due to the foreseen impact.

While AI undeniably holds immense power as a transformative tool, it is a double-edged sword. Recognizing AI's potential for both beneficial aid and harmful change is essential. And though it continues to improve, we must not panic, but instead remind ourselves that as AI evolves, so do humans.