Originally developed to enhance the apprehensive skills of machines and make them function in the most humane way possible, artificial intelligence was meant to ease the lives of humans and impart problem-solving skills to a machine. Understanding human speech, autonomous driving car, devising military simulation based on AI techniques, addressing the core area of extracting knowledge and planning to use the knowledge to right use, have all been the crux of Artificial Intelligence. It can rightly be called the fine composite of sundry fields like computer science, mathematics, psychology, linguistics philosophy and many more to name.

However, with the recent developments through the length and breadth of Artificial Intelligence, we’d be paralysed hadn’t the well-trodden techniques of artificial intelligence invaded our lives. Articulating the father of Artificial Intelligence Alan Turing, “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” What the human-kind saw in the short distance was the invention of infallible machines fed with the interpersonal skills of humans to efficiently perform tasks and shed their workload.

In hindsight, as much of a blessing artificial intelligence can be, the ubiquitous use of rendering human-like features to machines is posing a danger to mankind. The need of the hour is to see the ‘plenty’ that needs to be done when morals and ethics are in question in the backdrop of ever-evolving artificial intelligence.

Let’s Address The Elephant In The Room And Discuss The Paramount Question Of Morals That Entwines Artificial Intelligence.

With the advent of artificial intelligence in recent times, we have armed the technology with an ability to thrive and burgeon itself without the need for any human intervention. The alarming it may sound, it becomes absolutely imperative to contemplate the ways to keep the technology in check especially when it has the powers to out-think itself. As much as AI contributed towards facilitating human interaction and discerning cognitive skills in the most benign manner, it also poses a great danger when we start to depend on the technology and become addicted to it.

There are a lot of crucial challenges that iterates the importance of morals and ethics in implementing AI, a few examples to elucidate these challenges are:

  • Transparency:

    With the black box algorithm taking the artificial intelligence by storm, the end user is unaware of the inner workings of the algorithm. As a result, they are ignorant of the benefits and the dangers an algorithm might pose in the future. The incomprehension of the technology poses the possible threats of using the technology in an ignorantly malign manner.

  • The Threat to Privacy:

    With artificial intelligence, equipped to perform all possible human tasks and able to discern the human speech & conversation, it poses a great threat to humanity and can breach privacy to the greatest extent and in the most unimaginable manner. For instance, the ability to track and keep a record of the time, duration and location of your whereabouts, may become a burning issue for the breach of privacy in the future, considering artificial intelligence has the ability to develop itself without human intervention.

  • A Threat to Human Dignity:

    Machines that are tested and fed with as much information to function as humans are fast replacing manpower in the majority of industry sectors, certain well-reputed tasks that only a human discretion can bring about inaction are manipulated by machines which are prone to an error of judgment otherwise. 50% of the current activities in an organization are automatable, thus affecting global workforce whose impacts are far-reached. Replacing manpower with machines to perform tasks leave no dignity to human-kind.

  • A Threat to Safety:

    The self-improvising AI systems could undoubtedly become a powerful tool which if not tamed could possess the power to achieve the desired goals with malicious means whose consequences may transcend to results that are unwelcoming. The waging cybersecurity wars will intensify if AI got into the hands of people with malicious intent.

  • Manipulate People and Affect Human Interaction and Behavior:

    As much as AI can be a boon to mankind, it can hamper human interaction and behavior to manipulate people. The overall development of a child may be hampered if they rely extensively rely on AI to get their things done from a very young age.
    Unequal distribution of wealth – with the human employment facing a cutback because machines have replaced them to perform a larger part of their tasks, the employers will save on money that is otherwise paid as wages. This, in turn, would increase the rift between the poor and the rich.

  • Singularity:

    The concept of singularity confirms the idea that mankind is the most intelligent species on the planet. With self-improvising techniques of AI, the quintessential intelligence of mankind will be questioned.

What Steps Should We Take Towards The Socially Responsible Use Of Artificial Intelligence?

The only way to tame the technology that is self-improving day after day is to make conscious efforts to draft a set of rules and regulations that one must abide by while inventing any cutting-edge technology that involves using the techniques of artificial intelligence. In an effort to make artificial intelligence socially beneficial, it should encompass a comprehensive privacy policy. Well-defined laws should be in place to prevent the breach of privacy, and stringent actions should be against the breach.

Another crucial aspect that needs urgent attention is to hold the organization/group accountable for their malicious action. Every effort should be made to build the technology and should be tested for safety and eliminate any possibility of bias against mankind. On broader aspects, it becomes essential to protect the collective rights & interests of people and maintain transparency at every level of implementing techniques of artificial intelligence. In an endeavour to protect the rights of humankind and ensuring its safety, it all boils down adopting ethical practices in the development of Artificial Intelligence and to be able to learn from the failures and put the lessons to wise use.

Key Takeaway Thoughts To Ponder Over Taming The Technology

The recent times have witnessed the innovations in artificial intelligence brewing to its brim, if not checked, it can lead to humongous disasters to mankind. In a recent survey conducted by McKinsey Global Institute, 6 out of 10 occupations have more than 30% of the activities that are automatable by technology. Before the age of artificial intelligence takes over mankind, it becomes of utmost importance to take prompt steps and draw a line between the shared future of Artificial Intelligence and mankind. Conscious efforts should be made to leverage the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence towards noble cause of easing the lives of humanity than gaining the reigns to dictate humanity.