Artificial Intelligence: A Story on Its Implications in Our Modern and Technical World

Adam Said, Director of Technology Research at The Market Mavericks

July 5, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - a term that once conjured a future landscape dominated by robots, science-fiction spectacles, and a cyberpunk society has now found its way into everyone's regular lifestyles. From creating medical breakthroughs to writing your email asking your manager for a raise in the politest way possible, humanity has reached a realm where artificial intelligence has become accessible to the general population, with creativity settling our limits.

In this discourse, we explore the journey of AI from a conceptual marvel to an all-pervasive entity, its powerful impact on humanity's direction, and the ethical implications, concluding with the path ahead, with a significant focus on the business world.

Can Machines Think?

While tracing the journey of Artificial Intelligence is difficult, I propose a beginning to contextualize our reading. A British Mathematician, Alan Turner, asked, "Can Machines Think?" in the 1950s. At the time, the most 'complex' machine an ordinary person might interact with was the toaster at breakfast, its mechanics no more complicated than pulling a lever. His original vision was to create machines capable of mimicking the human mind; the reality was confined to a basic, rule-based system.?

Since then, we have been transformative and created algorithms that seemed like a dream to Alan. With the advancement in computational capabilities, data availability, and algorithmic sophistication, we've successfully mirrored human brain functionality by allowing AI to learn from data, improve with experience, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.

The corporate world has also set the stage to propel AI into every aspect of its operations. From assisting organizations in creating a long-term culture, paving the way for directors with data-based decisions, and automating daily tasks, the corporate sphere is unlocking the immense potential of AI.

The Journey of AI, from Turing's seminal question to today's widespread applications, has been a transformative era. Yet, the most significant shift we're witnessing is its transition from the elite confines of engineers and corporations to our everyday lives in the hands of the general population. This democratization is creating an unprecedented wave of innovation, not limited to the offices of corporations but reaching into the hands of any teenagers/young adults holding a phone. At this intriguing crossroads, it's worth examining how even children using AI emerge as entrepreneurs, revolutionizing the game with AI's democratization.

From the lab To the Living Room: The Democratization of AI

As the democratization of AI disrupts traditional entrepreneurial boundaries, we've witnessed a change in the tides that are breaking the confines of a traditional business model. With AI accessible to the public, we have seen a transformative ripple effect throughout global business sectors and entrepreneurial society.

This innovation isn't age or qualification specific. From experienced professionals to ambitious newcomers, AI is available in anyone's arsenal. Notably, OpenAI has pioneered the integration of AI into society with its groundbreaking release, ChatGPT. Its continuous learning capabilities and advanced functions have affected society by reshaping value creation, delivery, and capture, drastically changing the business landscape.

Consider, for example, the rise of AI-written books. This strategy has become a popular trend among emerging entrepreneurs. They have harnessed the capabilities of AI models like ChatGPT to produce and sell books, creating an entirely new genre of AI-authored literature. Other AIs created due to ChatGPT’s release have permitted individuals to generate original scripts, visuals, and voiceovers for YouTube videos, mass-producing content and generating income through ad revenue. These few instances demonstrate how AI's democratization revolutionizes traditional entrepreneurial forms.

The democratization of AI is carving a more inclusive environment, providing unique opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. It's no longer exclusively about large corporations in the glass but a globally interconnected market. With a strong understanding of AI and grand ambitions, any entrepreneurial spirit can make a mark and rise to new heights.

The broad reach of AI has fueled unprecedented innovation and entrepreneurship, underscoring technology's transformative power. However, this widespread accessibility also carries new ethical implications. As we embrace AI's rise, we must also address challenges related to privacy, accountability, and societal norms to ensure responsible growth.?

Ethical tidal waves: Growing With AI

As we steer our ship into the backburners of AI's ethical implications, it's important to remember that it's a double edge sword. AI catalyzes innovation and transformation, with successful young entrepreneurs telling tales. However, it also sparks a wave of concern and uncertainty with a narrative leading to the fear of AI replacing human jobs, leading to widespread unemployment.

For instance, let's consider our earlier example of ChatGPT. As a language model, it can write books, articles, and a myriad of artistic content traditionally written by humans. The rise of such technology could lead to a fear that the days of writers and journalists might be numbered. Similarly, the mass production of YouTube videos through AI might be seen as a threat to content creators themselves.

Another concern is the potential misuse of AI in the educational sphere. For example, high schools, colleges, and universities have highlighted many cases of students using AI to create and fasten their assignments, often leading to academic fraud and misinformation by Artificial intelligence.?

Interestingly, these concerns highlight a more significant issue - a lack of understanding and a generational gap between those who embrace AI and those who will reject it. We must bridge the knowledge chasm by promoting how AI can best fill the gaps in modern teaching problems and raise awareness about its potential, use, and misuse. While AI, like any other form of technology, can be used in dangerous contexts, it's essential to remember that we are still the arms and brain that decide its path for evolution and usage.

This case will be even more critical when those in power will lead the future of AI. Giant corporations must regulate their activities to use them for the greater good and mitigate any major disasters that could occur with a lack of supervision and critical thinking.

Embracing AI means leveraging its benefits and holding ourselves accountable to steer the ship to a bright future. As we evolve with AI, we must navigate these ethical challenges, steer clear of the possible pitfalls, and harness AI responsibly.

What Now? Embracing the Uncertainty and Potential of AI

As we peer into the unfolding horizon, the question arises, "What now?" We are on the edge of an AI-infused future, where the term " impossible " will lose meaning. One famous conjecture that many think will be the limit of AI is critical solid thinking capabilities in complex and unique situations. While it seems far-fetched, history is a testament to the infinite potential of AI.

Envisioning AI with critical thinking is more than just foreseeing improvements in data handling or pattern recognition. It points to a system capable of nuanced reasoning, mirroring human-like thought processes. This could reach into the hands of corporations, revolutionizing business models, market strategies, and organizational structures.

As we integrate AI into our professional lives, our approach must be met with a vital harmony between technological innovation coupled with a solid ethical matrix. It's not just what AI can do but what it should do in a corporate landscape that matters.

The trajectory of AI isn't predictable, but one thing is sure, is that our responsibility is to shape AI's development thoughtfully, reaping its benefits while mitigating its risks.?

As we step into the future, we must answer gaps met between generational gaps in AI. How do we best embrace AI in our lives? How do we put it to best us? Our collective decisions will shape the future of AI, which in turn, will reward us with solid innovation and progress.