AI: What's the gist? Is it going too far? ft. Chat GPT!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword for several years now, and its impact on our lives is growing more significant with each passing day. From autonomous vehicles and virtual assistants to medical diagnoses and financial predictions, AI is revolutionizing industries and reshaping the way we live and work. In this blog post, we will explore the world of AI, its history, current applications, and the potential it holds for the future.

This was created by Chat GPT. As we can see, modern AI has a very patronising outlook on its own growth and prospects in future development- (egocentric much?).

But this poses the question: if this level of intelligent and cognitive awareness can come from a machine, what threat does that pose to actual working human minds, and could this bare dangerous consequences in the future?

Birth of modern AI

The history of AI (as we know it in contemporary) started with science fiction, such as the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, that imagined a world where computers and machines possessed a level of autonomy eg. The 'Tin Man'.

This seemed little more than a pipe dream, like walking on the moon, or being able to play deliciously cute avatar games on a device (candy crush will forever stand unmovable on my selection of games).

However, in the 1950s, a man named Alan Turing started to question and think: if humans can use information available and reasoning to solve problems and make decisions, why can't machines? This was the framework for his paper 'Computing Machinery and Intelligence .

However, this still did seem like a pipe dream, as machines back then just did not have the processing power to accomplish such feats. Forget throughput data processing and problem-solving, they couldn't even remember the last commands you gave them. Coupled with how ridiculously expensive they were, and all hope seemed lost.

Until, 5 years later, when 'Logic Theorist' was put out: a programme that could mimic the problem solving skills of a human. This was the catalyst needed to reignite the hope that AI could possibly exist, and since then, the ever-increasing limit of computer memory and processing skills have further catapulted AI to the level of development it has reached today.

Many of my historical sources were found from The History of Artificial Intelligence, by Harvard University. For a more in depth breakdown, go check them out, or find other sources online!

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence is the ability of computers to process inputted information and use it to solve problems, deduce conclusions and... well be intelligent.

There is almost nothing that AI cannot do:

• Answer most customer service questions you might have? Check.

• Fill that void in your friendless life? Check. (Replika, Snapchat AI etc.)

• Diagnose you better than Bing ever could? Check. (Ada)

• Drive your car BY ITSELF? (Nearly there)

• Write an essay for your History project? Check. (Chat GPT)

The list goes on... but that poses certain problems.

wow... i can dictate my friend's personality too...

Certain problems with AI (Case Study: GPT)

How Chat GPT works:

Well first let's tackle how Chat GPT actually works. It is a conversation chatbot fed information from various sources on the internet. Once asked a question, it will find relevant information from its supply (ie. the internet), and answer your question. And even better, it can recognise and learn from its mistakes, and your inputs. Now, I can't deny how ingenious this is, HOWEVER, with great power comes great responsibility... and unfortunately human beings aren't very responsible.

Problems

And yes you've most likely already HEARD of all the scandals: people using Chat GPT to do their homework, cheat on exams, and even write personal statements- Oh My! And with how convincing the work is, it is very difficult to deduce what's authentic work, and what's AI generated (except for when Deborah, who's failing English, suddenly starts using words such as 'equanimity' and 'conundrum' in his essays!).

But let me just be honest, if in 10 or 20 years, I went to my GP and learnt that my DOCTOR who was treating me had graduated from medical school using the mind of chat GPT... I would walk out. Forget my ailment. Forget the treatment. I simply wouldn't have it.

And that's the two-pronged conundrum: how far are educational institutions going to let students advance with the likes of AI, and how much are students' innovative and cognitive reasoning skills going to be impacted by this surge of computerised thinking.

As well as this, there is also the problem that the sources of Chat GPT's information can hardly be trusted. Many reputable companies have blocked Chat GPT from sourcing information from their websites, such as: The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, and even Quora (though reputable might be a stretch- I still love my Quora!).

I mean what else does this leave? Wikipedia??

Are AI programs such as Chat GPT leading to a future where nobody thinks for themselves anymore, and can the trueness of this streamlined information even be trusted?

Good things about AI

I mean AI can still be incredibly useful. Actually, it can be downright incredible. There is an extensive list of all the things we use AI for, and the list I wrote doesn't even cover a quarter of it. It has been heavily integrated in our jet-age society, to the extent that often we don't even realise it's there. I can't count the number of things I view as 'normal' or just 'nicely convenient' when 20 years ago it would've been inconceivable.

Take a look at this AI innovation for Google Maps called 'immersive view':

I personally think this is AMAZING, and this is just ONE of the unimaginably long list of possibilities for the future of AI.

And let's be honest. Most of these innovations have the sole purpose of helping us, and making our lives easier. So surely, no harm can be done... right?

The Future of AI: can AI replace humans?

Ahh, the BIG question. The fueling source for many sci-fi movies and conspiracy theories, as well as many many well-grounded fears. Can AI replace humans... well. Can it?

I honestly think it depends on us.

The level to which we're pushing it makes it seem feasible that someday it could happen. I mean many computer whizzes and scientists have the goal of AI reaching general intelligence: that is the ability for a machine to surpasses human cognitive abilities in all tasks.

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I mean we're giving them the opportunity on a SILVER PLATTER!

There are many things that AI cannot do. It lacks the critical and nuanced thinking of humans, and disregards the possibility that certain circumstances are more complex (in a less logical way), which may require the simple empathy of a human. Something which computers simply do not have.

Furthermore, AI simply cannot fathom a problem that is undiscovered or unpresentable, meaning that human innovation is still needed. It's like trying to build a machine to peel oranges in a Universe where oranges do not exist. Impossible. The concept of an orange would first need to exist before the process of peeling it could be understood and transferred to a computable system.

Likewise, AI cannot solve with an algorithm, a problem that does not even exist yet, or that there is no basis of information on (and I hope it will NEVER be able to).

Therefore, I believe the human mind is still very much needed and cannot be replaced.

Conclusion

In conclusion, despite the significant benefits to the development of AI, there are also significant dangers.

I believe there should be a way to provide common ground: where humans still dominate all aspects of thinking and intelligence, but AI and computers are just used to facilitate our work, and do the little stuff that no one wants to do (like updating lists or softwares, or smth).

However, I believe AI should not be given as much power as tech whizzes are aiming for, and some things should still stay intrinsically linked, and exclusive to humans.

You know... for our own good... so that the computers don't take over!

Thank you for reading, and God bless!

To end (and prove my point), here's a video of AI beating a Go champion... at his own game.... :(

(Alexa play sad music).