Technology is making leaps and bounds. Now we can see and talk to someone from the other side of the world. We can order everything, with a few clicks. Throughout human history, it has never been so easy to connect and consume at the same time.
Artificial intelligence is now at the center of modern developments.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI from Artificial Intelligence)?
Behind every type of artificial intelligence is an algorithm, a programmed code meant to simulate human intelligence in machines. Some of the most common applications of artificial intelligence include physics processing languages, speech recognition and machine vision. From a practical point of view, AI helps businesses optimize their products, manage their inventory and/or their accounting.
In general, artificial intelligence reproduces actions that would normally require a person with a degree of know-how to perform. So the intention of artificial intelligence is almost always to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in decision making.
Unfortunately, this does not mean that it always works morally.
In fact, many of the programmers who "write" artificial intelligence algorithms ignore the ethical part. After all, they are programmers, not philosophers. They are the people who try to make sure that the code they write saves time, money and effort for their employers.
To date, and from many opinions, we have hardly touched the surface of artificial intelligence. Lately, we have seen positive and negative effects. Here are some examples of how artificial intelligence can bring up ethical dilemmas.
Racism & Inequality
In artificial intelligence, racism appears as an unintended consequence of optimization. However, artificial intelligence reflects existing decision-making mechanisms and thought processes.
In fact, artificial intelligence not only promotes the privileged treatment of certain individuals in society, but also exacerbates it. In the range of privileges, most consumer applications of artificial intelligence tend to benefit the rich, whites, men and the able.
For example, Facebook has a long history of racism, and sexism built into its ad serving algorithm. In some cases, advertisements for specific jobs were observed that were shown mainly to Spanish-speaking peopletreatments or differences in house prices with base whether a person is of African American descent.
Apart from this, many of the existing artificial intelligence algorithms have difficulty understanding non-Western accents, and differentiating Asian faces.
Automation and Unemployment
Artificial intelligence enthusiasts have long advertised how to get rid of monotonous work. But they do not mention the consequences.
Many jobs will now be obsolete due to automation, but this will have an impact on the poor who will be disproportionately affected first.
Much of the developing world still relies on manual labor for a living. Often a symptom of inequality, or even lack of access to education, makes more technical work inaccessible to too many people.
When artificial intelligence takes over the jobs held by traditionally low-income workers, they will be the first to lose their income and the last to benefit from the "revolutionary algorithm".
Όπλα
It is no secret that much of the commercial technology we enjoy today comes from research and experiments done in the military. Like the upcoming drone delivery. If nothing else, preparing for war has always encouraged states to invest in different types of technology. One of them is artificial intelligence.
In fact, artificial intelligence is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, facial recognition technology has allowed governments to quickly track down terrorists even across international borders. However, the same technology is also being used to track protesters and activists in volatile areas countries.
In addition, case studies have already been done with drones and robot dogs used as weapons. If this is left unchecked, it will open up the possibility of targeted killings and attacks. Let's not mention the use of armed drones by America and the collateral losses.
Robots and sex
Sex now uses tactile technology, virtual reality and even tongue stimulation, to simulate sexual intercourse with machines.
In fact, sex with robots has benefits, such as lack of risk for sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, it can also lead to a potential reduction in victims of human trafficking. However, a new Pandora box opens.
In a world that is increasingly eroding the values of human beings, the use of sex robots can increasingly blur the boundaries of consensus. A robot will never say no…
Close
All of the above ethical dilemmas should be taken seriously as they affect people and societies.
It is important for world leaders and technology innovators to work together to move forward at a pace that does not sacrifice humanity and dignity. This can be utopian, because anyone developing a new technology is not going to collaborate and share their idea with others.
Like all types of technology, artificial intelligence is a tool that can be used to change our world.
At the moment we have the power to choose whether this change is for the better or for the worse.
