Years back, the idea of creating tech powerful enough to handle tasks on its own with minimal human assistance looked either impossible or only achievable in the late 3000s. This dream was the desire of innovators and scientists around the world which could easily be identified by numerous efforts and countless film adaptations. After years of hardwork and dedication, it is safe to say that that dream is now a reality.
The world is rapidly developing especially in this digital era and contemporarily Artificial Intelligence (AI) happens to be the pinnacle of human innovation. Whether it is performing simple tasks or smashing complex algorithms, this tool can do it well, maybe a little too well better than humans even which brings us to the million dollar question: is AI truly the answer to all our prayers or just another avenue with far more complications than the solutions it provides??. Let's dive into it shall we.
The primary objective of every invention is to make life easier, better and safer. AI is grounded on the basis of being able to solve problems, learn, provide solutions and even mirror our intelligence thus creating a world where man does not need to over exert himself to get work done. All these motives prove that AI is not just our greatest ally but a tool for continuous development when it is geared towards the right direction. Every year, scientists globally have been able to record fast paced accomplishments in fields like medicine, politics, tech you name it, effortless all thanks to AI so it will be wise to put those fears aside and embrace the new world that will not fizzle out anytime soon.
Around February this year, I was still working as a high school teacher earning peanuts. The school management had made numerous promises for a salary rise in the past but chose not to redeem any. So 90% percent of the teachers (myself included) talked about it and decided to persuade them one more time. Three teachers were selected to go their office and get it over with. The whole ordeal lasted for approximately 9 mins and when representatives came back they told others that the school management told them that they were going to sack every teacher in the school and replace them with AI to cut cost. Some teachers were scared but i wasn't because I knew that AI was never created to replace people especially when it has to do with jobs that require human emotions so her threat meant nothing to me.
The school actually gave it a try before the end of the semester only to discover that they were on the losing side the students were barely learning anything especially the early years and that AI is just a tool to assist, make up for shortcomings and can barely operate without supervision atleast not at this stage. The school later gave in, reaching a compromise with the teachers.
Don't get me wrong, there are still some jobs that have been rendered obsolete because of AI. A task that normally requires 15 men to accomplish in a day is now efficiently done within minutes. This might look like this tool is slowly high jacking jobs but I only see it as creating two solutions to a single problem:
- AI cannot be completely trusted to handle these jobs on its own and requires human supervision to regulate its operations thus creating job opportunities to make up for the ones lost.
- One of the major characteristics of man is adaptation. With this issue, men will be forced to adapt new skills to fit in with the ever changing nature of society creating a chain reaction for more development.
Either way we look at it, this is clearly a win win situation for our race so we can all rest easy. Artificial Intelligence is our ticket to paradise and while it does possess some dangers, the advantages of having it around far supercedes the shortcomings which can always be managed with the right mindset.
Watching too many sci-fi movies has left a negative imprint of fear in our minds about the possibility of an AI uprising which led to man's downfall, subjugation and finally extinction ( example Terminator). I cannot say for certain if this might be possible and quite frankly I don't pay much attention to it. I just want to enjoy this
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