Will Artificial Intelligence help humanity or spell the end of human race?

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is commonly defined by the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks associated to human beings, such as abilities to reason, discover meaning or learn from utilization. Since its creation in 1956, the term of AI has focused on fantasies and fears linked to the development of modern technologies.

But where and when is it used? Are robots dangerous for human’s employment? What are AI’s limits and how is it controlled?

Artificial Intelligence is already used on an everyday basis and almost everywhere

Deeply associated with innovation, AI is experienced in everyday life, from voice recognition to smart cars. Virtual personal assistants or purchase prediction, for instance, use AI when they collect information on users’ requests and tailor results to their preferences, making them able, at some point, to anticipate users’ needs.

Indeed, what allows AI’s development is the crucial amount of data collection, labelling and analysis, usually summarized in “Big Data” and estimated as world’s most precious treasure. With the boom of data compilation, AI’s progresses accelerated during these last years as well and experts say they will go even faster in the next 10 years, making possible experiences taken for science-fiction a few years before.

The thing is, whether its users are aware of it or not, AI is everywhere and has a prevailing effect on everyone’s life.

Though an economic opportunity, robots’ advent threatens specific fields of activity in some areas in the world

However, beyond its practical application, AI is often considered as a threat for employment, in the way robots might work more efficiently, more accurately and more consistently than workers in specific areas.

Robots have already displaced millions of manufacturing workers especially in Northern countries, and automation puts at risk millions of jobs: mainly in low-skill sectors such as production, transport, retail, wholesale and customer service; but also in high-skill jobs, like accountants and lawyers.

Nowadays, production efficiencies are estimated at billions, and jobs that will remain are likely to be those requiring creativity, improvisation or custom advisory. Taking this into account, the ongoing changes in the labour market imply both to retrain the workforce affected and to rethink the way young people are taught and oriented.

Artificial Intelligence’ incapacity to experience things raises the problem of ethical consciousness

That said, the obsessive fear of AI is its self-awareness… combined with its lack of control. It is no longer a question of advanced robots deciding to destroy human race. Most robots animated by AI are just acting the way they were programed; making them reflect of human’s subjectivity and biases. For example, AI’s use in Human Resources recruitment process may make computers be misogynous and racist, although it was only uploaded existing databases or defined criteria.

The danger of AI might come from billions of small but clever cells, acting in a network, self-reinforcing and evolving permanently until mutation. They do not learn from experience, such as knowing that fire burns by touching it, but by associating (re)actions to data received. The Web’s multiple algorithms are strengthened by their dissemination and their immateriality, making no one responsible of their final decision, even though it is in conflict with moral principles.

Therefore, the key question of ethic integration within AI should be supervised, watched and policed. Some personalities, such as the billionaire Elon Musk or the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, call for the settlement of limits to AI. Several American giants, such as Microsoft, Google, IBM, Amazon and Facebook have defined “good practices” to make public researches on AI, make recommendations and raise awareness among the general public and policy makers. At an individual level, everyone might contribute to keep the debate going.