Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin are the co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology and the hosts of its podcast, "Your Undivided Attention." Watch the Center's new film "The A.I. Dilemma" on YouTube.
Clip taken from JRE #2076 w/ Aza Raskin & Tristan Harris
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to systems or machines that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks and can iteratively improve themselves based on the information they collect. AI manifests in various forms, some of which are simple and narrow—like the algorithms that suggest your next video on a streaming service—and others that are complex and broad, aiming to tackle more general tasks that would require human-level understanding and reasoning.
The real-world advancement of AI brings several potential fears and concerns:
1. Job Displacement: One of the most immediate fears is that AI will automate tasks currently performed by humans, leading to significant job displacement across many industries. While AI can lead to the creation of new job categories, the transition may be challenging for many workers.
2. Privacy: As AI systems require vast amounts of data to learn and make decisions, there is a significant risk to privacy. This data can include personal information, and there's always the potential for misuse or breach of privacy.
3. Security: More sophisticated AI systems increase the risk of their use in cyber attacks. Autonomous drones or other AI-controlled equipment could also be used in military applications, raising concerns about the automation of warfare.
4. Bias and Discrimination: AI systems learn from existing data, which can include biased human decisions. This can lead to AI systems that propagate these biases, potentially leading to discriminatory practices, especially in sensitive areas like hiring or law enforcement.
5. Loss of Human Control: There's a philosophical and ethical fear that as AI systems become more advanced, humanity might lose control over them. This includes worries about superintelligent systems whose goals might not align with human values or safety.
6. Ethical Use: Determining the ethical boundaries for AI use, especially in critical areas such as surveillance, decision-making in healthcare, and the criminal justice system, remains a major challenge.
7. Social Manipulation: AI can be used to create deepfakes, bots, and other tools that can be used for misinformation, potentially influencing elections, swaying public opinion, and destabilizing societies.
Addressing these fears requires thoughtful regulation, ongoing research into AI ethics and safety, and a broad societal dialogue about how AI should be integrated into daily life. It's crucial that these systems are developed and deployed in a manner that aligns with societal values and norms to ensure they benefit humanity broadly.