Automation & Artificial Intelligence

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are a daily part of our lives and found in countless uses whether in our cars, smartphones, or even our homes. It would be difficult to imagine a world without the use of automation and AI. While we enjoy many benefits today because of automation and AI, there are many who consider these innovations to be potentially destructive for humans. In fact, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking has said “the automation of factories has already decimated jobs in traditional manufacturing, and the rise of artificial intelligence is likely to extend this job destruction deep into the middle classes, with only the most caring, creative or supervisory roles remaining” (Business Insider, 2016). On the other hand, in a recent article by award-winning technology columnist, Kevin Maney, it is proposed that “The one thing worse for the human race than developing AI would be stopping the development of AI” (Newsweek, 2016). So, we are left asking the question are automation and artificial intelligence our friends or our foes?

To answer this question, we must be sure to fully understand what we mean by automation and artificial intelligence. We define automation as the “automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system by mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human labor”. We define artificial intelligence as “the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior” (Merriam-Webster, 2017). From this, we can see that while both are very closely related, automation and AI are different from each other in that automation is meant to act as human labor would, while AI is meant to act as human intelligence (thinking) would. Automation is not a “new” concept, while many associate its beginnings with its use in automotive factories during the 1920s and 1930s, it has theoretical beginnings in B.C. times and practical beginnings in the 11th century with the use of waterwheels (Product Handling Concepts, 2016). Now, artificial intelligence is a much more recent innovation. While the idea has been around for centuries, the actual term was not coined until 1956 during a conference at Dartmouth College. Nearly forty years later in 1997, IBM's Deep Blue became the first piece of AI to beat a human chess champion at the game (Live Science, 2014). This provides us with the history necessary to understand what is meant by automation and AI.

To understand why some consider automation and AI to be potentially harmful to humans let us consider the cons of relying on these and the associated potential consequences. The single greatest downside to utilizing automation and AI technologies is the associated reduction in need for humans. One example is the use of automated robots at iPhone manufacture Foxconn, which enabled them to replace 60,000 human workers with automated technology (Quartz, 2016). While it is good that iPhones can now be produced more efficiently, it has also eliminated the ability of 60,000 humans to earn a living for themselves and their families. This further impacts the global economy as it reduces these humans’ ability to purchase goods and services, which harms other humans and we quickly begin to see the domino effect. Eventually, one could see a scenario in which humans are no longer needed and AI begins to operate independently of humanity altogether, spelling a “sci-fi” end to humanity. There is also the downside of potential for abuse and mismanagement of AI by humans. As the ever-improving technologies empower humans to commit fraud, sabotage and other criminal or unethical activities. Therefore, we can see that there is risk in continuing to use and grow automation and AI.

While there are risks associated with using automation and AI, there are also many benefits as a result of their use. The single greatest danger of using these technologies is also its greatest reward, the reduced need for humans. As automation and AI replace humans by taking over tasks such as data entry, driving a vehicle or assisting during a surgery, this frees up human labor and intelligence to devote itself to other tasks. For example, consider the gas station pump attendant. While extinct today, there used to be hundreds of thousands of humans working as gas station pump attendants until they were replaced by automated machines. While this job was eliminated, it was replaced with the need for engineers to design, produce and maintenance the machines, as well as salesmen, marketers, etc. This also created the opportunity for gas stations to expand their business model and begin adding sales clerks (Newsweek, 2016). The net result of this change was a benefit to society as humans were still employed, but in a way that was more efficient and rewarding for humanity as a whole. Herein lies another benefit of automation and AI as these technologies are often significantly more efficient than humans. This is especially true in those tasks that are monotonous such as data processing in which what used to take humans hours of physical processing time, can now be done in minutes by automated machines. So, we also see the advantages of using automation and AI. 

After examining automation and AI more closely, let us again ask are these technological innovations our friends or our foes? The simple answer is they are our friends. The ability of automation and AI to reduce the need for humans creates at worst, a happy problem. With the constant evolution of these technologies, humanity will be forced to evolve and adapt at an ever-increasing rate. While this change brings with it uncertainty and fear, the opportunities associated are unparalleled. With automation and AI, a cure for cancer, intergalactic space travel, and a solution for world hunger are all attainable. The question is not really whether automation and AI are our friends or foes, but rather whether those humans using these technologies are our friends or foes. The intent of those creating new automation and AI is what will shape humanity’s future, not the technologies themselves. 

Works Cited

"A Brief History of Automation." Product Handling Concepts. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

"Artificial Intelligence." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

"Automation." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Lewis, Tanya. “A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence”. Live Science. 04 Dec. 2014. Web 20 Apr. 2017.

Maney, Kevin. "You will love the future economy, thanks to robots and AI." Newsweek. N.p., 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Murphy, Mike. "IPhone manufacturer Foxconn is replacing 60,000 workers with robots." Quartz. Quartz, 25 May 2016. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Price, Rob. "Stephen Hawking: Automation and AI is going to decimate middle class jobs." Business Insider. Business Insider, 02 Dec. 2016. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.