To Lean into AI or Not – That is the Question

Hollywood is on strike!

Facial recognition scams are on high!

Tom Cruise had to jump down a cliff to save the world!

Yes, you got it right! It’s about the one thing that connects all three — our not-anymore-Mr. nice guy, AI. Presumably the big bad reason behind everything and anything going ‘out of the line’ in recent times!

AI seems to be the popular culprit for layoffs to scams, from strikes to privacy loss. And the steady dose of rogue AI stories gulped in the form of our favorite sci-fi with a side dish of half-baked AI knowledge isn’t helping.

But have you ever tried to look a little deeper? Going beyond just the headlines to investigate the actual cause? Is it only about a new disruptive technology that is ‘assumed’ to replace humans or do these problems stem from somewhere much deeper?

If you haven’t yet taken the initiative to find out, this is the right time to start! And irrespective of who says what or what your research finds, sleep on it, and take your own decision instead of being guided by any popular belief systems. That’s what makes us human, the ability to think and decide for ourselves.

There’s no denying that Artificial Intelligence can be extremely powerful and power in the wrong hands is bound to cause disastrous results. The world has seen it time and again. But does that put the technology at fault?

A knife in the hands of a criminal is a murder weapon but the same knife in the hands of a surgeon saves countless lives. So, can we really put the blame on the knife for killing someone or it’s all about the intention of the person holding it?

AI is a fantastic tool that can revolutionize human lives and society in ways like no other, provided it is trained to perfection and used with caution. From cheaper healthcare to safer travels, error-free services to reduced costs – AI can make it all happen!

Believe it or not, this might be a turning point in the history of humanity on this planet. We all know what the effects of the immense power that AI will bring can be. Here’s a quick reminder- “With power comes the abuse of power. And where there are bosses, there are crazy bosses. It’s nothing new.”

Let’s be honest- are we ready for it? Are we responsible enough to ensure that this immense power is used only to enhance human lives and not to put it at more risk? Are the hands holding the reins strong enough to look beyond their personal loss and gains and focus on the greater good?

Until those questions are answered, the power of AI, particularly what it might be able to do if misused, will continue to be a point of concern for people from every sphere of life. But be sure, rejecting AI as a technology, only because it might be disastrous in the wrong hands or if not used with caution, is not the way forward.

Rather, what we need are proper laws and guidelines to ensure the right use of this emerging super-power. And above all, our intentions as a society of intelligent beings should be pointed in the right direction.

By Ananya Lahiri