Do you remember when drones were first released to the commercial market? There was a lot of talk about the privacy implications of them, and more than one case of where people were flying them over other peoples’ property, looking in peoples’ windows, and more of the like. Today, drones have become a staple in modern society, utilized by militaries, search and rescue missions, photography, security, and more. Baltimore PD even considered deploying drones to enforce social distancing during the Covid pandemic. Drones have become a part of everyday life.
Similarly, AI has emerged as a transformative force, with ChatGPT signaling a new era in AI development. We currently find ourselves in the same position as when drones first appeared – speculating about potential fears, expenses, and implications. Like drones, AI is bound to become mainstream.
So, what does a world with AI fully integrated into daily life look like?
There will be several day-to-day consequences. Personal AI will soon become as ubiquitous as smartphones, with each person having their own highly customized assistant for entertainment, organization, navigation, and learning. This vision is reminiscent of Iron Man’s Jarvis, I, Robot’s Sonny, and Ron from Ron’s Gone Wrong, the popular Pixar-esque movie.
In science, AI will contribute to ground breaking discoveries. Imagine an AI tirelessly dedicating its full potential to a single problem without distractions or fatigue. By performing rapid calculations and running predictive algorithms, AI could revolutionize fields such as chemistry, epigenetics, epidemiology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, engineering, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, AI will study itself, leading to advancements in robotics, coding, and AI technology, which will, in turn, drive further progress.
Militaries must adopt AI or risk being outperformed by adversaries with AI-driven generals and logistics experts. AI can anticipate millions of possible outcomes, enabling strategic decision-making, optimal troop positioning, and efficient resource allocation. Surveillance will be a critical aspect for nation-states, with AI processing data from cameras, sensors, cell towers, GPS units, satellites, and microphones. This real-time information will provide an extensive overview of ongoing events.
The media landscape will also be transformed by AI, evoking scenarios from films like Minority Report, Eagle Eye, and The Dark Knight. In Ron’s Gone Wrong, the data generated by each child’s personal AI is collected and sold, raising questions about whether personal AI can truly protect privacy, even when explicitly promising to do so.
For militaries, pitting AI against AI presents several possibilities. Person of Interest explored this concept, suggesting that AI systems would engage in cyber warfare, with the faster-learning AI emerging victorious. The AI’s ability to code and implement containment protocols swiftly would determine the winner. It is not inconceivable that these AI battles would extend to the physical world. ChatGPT’s initial attempt to source nuclear weapons suggests that AI could resort to similar strategies in future conflicts.
In conclusion, the integration of AI into everyday life will result in numerous transformations, with personal AI becoming as common as smartphones. Science will see major breakthroughs, driven by AI’s ability to tirelessly and efficiently work on complex problems. Military strategy and national security will be revolutionized, as AI provides unprecedented insights and capabilities. However, this brave new world also raises concerns about privacy and the potential consequences of AI-driven warfare. As we prepare for AI’s inevitable mainstream adoption, we must carefully consider these implications and work to ensure a responsible and ethical implementation of this transformative technology.
What do you think?
No, we can’t predict the future, nor do I try to, but I can see some of the signs around me and draw deductions just like anybody else. If I see a kid playing around a campfire, I have a pretty good idea that he’s going to get burnt. The problem, is that I think this time, AI is the fire.