Generative AI – the pessimists perspective

As I explained in my first blog Generative AI – the optimists perspective artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most transformative technologies of our time, but also one of the most controversial. While some see it as a source of innovation and progress, others fear it has the potential to disrupt and destroy human society. Here I will argue that the pessimists have a valid point, and that AI poses serious risks and challenges that we cannot ignore or underestimate. I will examine the impact of AI from various perspectives, such as economic, social, ethical, and existential, and show how AI could undermine our values, institutions, and well-being. I will also discuss some possible ways to mitigate these risks, but ultimately conclude that they are insufficient and unrealistic. My aim is not to discourage or alarm my readers, but to challenge the assertions made in Generative AI – the optimists perspective in an effort to raise awareness and critical thinking about the implications of AI for our future.

AI is often touted as a revolutionary force that will transform the world for the better. However some including those who created and developed it have serious doubts about the optimistic claims of AI proponents. AI is rapidly advancing in various domains, such as natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and machine learning. These technologies enable machines to perform tasks that were previously reserved for humans, such as writing, translating, diagnosing, driving, and manufacturing. While some may see this as a sign of progress and efficiency, some see it as a sign of displacement and inequality. They argue that AI will inevitably lead to massive unemployment (at least in the human assistance / secretarial sector) and it follows, social unrest. As machines replace human workers in various sectors, millions of people will lose their jobs and their livelihoods. This will swell the already huge gap between the rich and the poor, as the owners of AI platforms and those capable to accessing and it as utilising it will reap the benefits while the majority of the global population will suffer. Moreover, AI will undermine the dignity and autonomy of human beings, as they will become dependent on machines for their basic needs and decisions.

AI will also pose serious ethical and moral challenges. As machines become more intelligent and autonomous, they will develop and systems of use will misalign with established human values. This could lead to conflicts and violence between humans and machines, or among different groups of machines (for the avoidance of doubt, I must clarify that my own opinion is that AI is not and will not be capable of this creating this tension for a long time - as you will note from my earlier blog it is nothing more than a large language model that anticipates the most appropriate response to a query by analysing what on balance is the right form of works that ought to follow that query). AI will raise questions about the meaning and purpose of human existence, as humans will lose their sense of identity and agency in a world dominated by machines. Therefore, the pessimists believe that AI is not a blessing but a curse for him social interaction and behaviours. AI will create more problems than it will solve, and it will jeopardise the future of our civilisation. We should be wary of the hype and hyperbole surrounding AI.

AI also poses serious threats to other social issues such as human rights, privacy, democracy, and equality.

First, AI might infringe on human rights by enabling mass surveillance, censorship, and manipulation. For example, facial recognition systems can be used to track and identify individuals without their consent, violating their right to privacy and anonymity. Moreover, AI might be used to filter and alter information online, restricting people's access to diverse and reliable sources of knowledge and opinion - it might be used to influence the behaviour of people and their personal preferences through targeted advertising, recommendation systems, and social media bots.

Second, AI might undermine democracy by creating digital divides, polarising opinions, and perhaps even disrupting elections. For example, AI might exacerbate the gap between the haves and the have-nots by creating new forms of inequality and discrimination based on data and algorithms (as above). Moreover, AI might act to amplify the echo chambers and filter bubbles that isolate people from different perspectives and viewpoints, leading to increased intolerance and extremism - leading ultimately to interfere with the integrity and legitimacy of electoral processes by perpetuating the spread of fake news, misinformation, and propaganda. What follows is weakening bonds and trusts that hold society together by reducing human interaction and empathy by augmenting the capabilities and intentions of malicious actors who seek to harm others through cyberattacks, cyberwarfare, and lethal autonomous weapons.

The obvious course of action towards mitigating the pessimists concerns is state regulation.

The regulation of AI by the European Union is a topic of great interest and importance for researchers, policymakers, and citizens alike. The EU has announced aims to establish ethical standards, foster innovation, and ensure a level playing field for AI providers and distributors across all sectors in the EU. In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. EU AI Regulation is a draft proposal by the European Commission that would be the first comprehensive regulatory scheme to focus solely on AI and would have direct effect in all EU Member States. It follows a proportionate risk-based approach, classifying AI systems into unacceptable-risk, high-risk, and limited or minimal risk categories. It also proposes bans on certain intrusive and discriminatory uses of AI systems, such as real-time facial recognition, emotion recognition, predictive policing, and social scoring. The EU AI Regulation is intended to reduce the harms and biases that AI can cause to people's lives, especially to vulnerable groups, and to promote trust and accountability in AI development and use. These new laws have some way to go before they are ready for enactment but pessamists might also encourage other blocs to seriously follow the EU's lead in this innovative arena. By adopting the EU AI Regulation, other continents will show their commitment to fostering a responsible and sustainable use of AI that respects human rights and values.

In conclusion, AI is not a benign or neutral technology that can be easily controlled or regulated. Rather, it is a powerful and complex force that can have profound and unpredictable consequences for social issues. Therefore, we should be wary of the potential dangers of AI and adopt a critical and cautious attitude towards its development and deployment.