Can AI be stopped? Experts discuss the darkest AI future and how it could impact humanity
Leading researchers warn it’s only a matter of time before artificially intelligence becomes generally smarter than humans, which could bring significant risks.
Much has been said about the upsides of artificial intelligence (AI), which is designed to enhance efficiency, eliminate human error and improve decision-making. Humanoid robots may help us do tedious chores at home in the future, while one AI-focused company plans on “putting the power of superintelligence in people’s hands to direct it to what they value in their own lives.”
However, many are concerned, rightly or wrongly, about losing their job because of AI, which is also being linked to rising electricity bills. Some studies have even suggested the technology makes us slower and having a negative effect on our creativity, especially in relation to certain tasks.
Some experts, though, believe that might be the least of all our worries.
Artificial General Intelligence imminent
Most scientists believe artificial general intelligence (AGI), the term for computer systems generally being smarter than humans, will be achieved by 2040, although some theorize it could even happen in the next few months.
According to Live Science, AGI would mean the technology “showing high linguistic, mathematical and spatial reasoning ability; learning well across domains; working autonomously; demonstrating creativity; and showing social or emotional intelligence.” Traits which humans - most of us at least - possess.
Clearly, AGI has never happened, so potential outcomes are completely hypothetical at this stage.
The benefits of AGI
There could, and there are expected to be, a whole host of benefits for mankind. “AGI has the potential to give everyone incredible new capabilities,” explained OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a 2023 blog post. “We can imagine a world where all of us have access to help with almost any cognitive task, providing a great force multiplier for human ingenuity and creativity.”
The doomsday scenario: AI works against humanity
The fear, however, is that AGI will develop to such an extent that it will be able to override and overpower the humans that created it, eventually working against humanity.
The doomsday scenario for most is that a future AI model could “cause catastrophic harm,” which OpenAI estimates there is a 16.9% chance of happening.
There have already been reports of AI hiding information from human tests, and even lying to them.
“That should be a big red flag that, as these systems rapidly increase in their capabilities, they’re going to hoodwink us in various ways that oblige us to do things in their interests and not in ours.” Nell Watson, a futurist, AI researcher and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) member, told Live Science.
As AI continues to evolve, balancing its vast potential with careful oversight will be crucial. Whether as a powerful tool or a disruptive force, the future of artificial intelligence will depend largely on how humanity chooses to guide it.
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