The Buzzword: AI

?The Buzzword: AI

In 2003, during my computer science master's degree at Claremont Graduate University in CA, I delved into the realm of knowledge management and institutional learning. I was captivated by the potential of computing power to transform institutions into human-like learning entities. I posed a question to my professor then: "How could computing power enable institutions to learn, akin to the human brain?"

Without hesitation, my professor responded, "The power of collecting billions of neural connections within our brains and replicating them in a network of neurons is boundless for humanity. This is the essence of institutional learning." At that time, AI was not a commonly used term. However, throughout my career from 2003 to 2023, I have always been fascinated by the impact of technology on our brains, our learning processes, and our cognitive functions in relation to technology.

I have witnessed the exponential rise in CPU power and the advent of quantum computing, marveling at the incredible speed of data processing, signal transmission, and decoding. This rapid advancement in hardware processing has led me to believe that we are on the brink of something momentous.

While many associate the power of computing with the capacity to process complex problems through sophisticated software algorithms, I have come to realize that hardware advancements are the key element for exploration. Computers possess multifaceted algorithms capable of processing vast amounts of information per second. However, they have traditionally been limited by encoding, transmitting, and decoding processes. But that is no longer the case.

Consider this example: A 52-year-old man living in CA is writing an article about his hobby of apple picking. If he inputs this statement into a language model, the system searches an immense universe of data and detects that this man—let's call him Joe—has mentioned over the last five years the phrase, "I like to pick apples in the spring with my daughter." The language system may then complete his statement based on a deep data projection built from similar contexts. This level of speed and accuracy was unimaginable just a few years ago. However, AI simply works on algorithms and projections. It lacks the ability to experience emotions and possess human senses. Unlike humans who can feel, perceive, and understand the world through their senses, AI operates based on predefined rules and patterns. It relies on data analysis, pattern recognition, and computational power to make decisions and generate outputs.

But the system has the limitless capability to project other elements of Joe's statement, such as, "I like to pick apples in the spring with my daughter in Seattle, Washington, where we have a family farm."

This statement enters a vast network of language coding and is linked to a primary key, namely "Joe." The data derived from this association becomes invaluable to various entities:

• Joe's healthcare provider, who becomes aware that Joe has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but is actively engaging in outdoor activities in the Spring.
• Insurance companies, which detect the lifestyle patterns of their insured clients aged 50 and above.
• His daughter's summer camp, seeking to understand the family's activities and offer suitable alternatives in their Seattle location.
• Financial advisors, who gain deeper insights into Joe's vacation patterns to provide more accurate retirement planning.

You grasp the significance her

This is the incredible power of AI computing. Each person and entity examine the primary key, Joe, from a distinct perspective and generates projection based on historical patterns. However, none of them truly comprehends Joe's genuine feelings, concerns, hopes, and aspirations when he interacts with family and friends—at least not yet.

Each entity can request the AI to develop applications that attempt to solve Joe's challenges and provide better solutions for his upcoming trip to Seattle. Software engineers may find themselves eliminated in this process, and any job that can be automated by AI will face a similar fate. While some argue that this will lead to efficiency and resource abundance, perspectives differ based on individual vantage points.

The most perilous challenge arising from Joe's story is the potential exploitation of this data for political purposes. Every piece of data holds critical significance in shaping election outcomes. For instance, knowing that Joe enjoys family vacations with his daughter in the spring, despite having type 2 diabetes, may seem trivial to someone like you or me. However, to expert political pollsters, it is a valuable insight. The danger lies in AI seizing control over Joe's life through targeted messaging and disinformation, using historical data to make him believe that Party X is deeply committed to solving his and his family's problems, albeit falsely.

In essence, AI is akin to a talented surgeon wielding an incredibly sharp knife. If the surgeon's moves veer in the wrong direction, reversing the patient's condition becomes arduous. We require a global effort to ensure that the surgeon's incisions are carefully controlled, saving the patient from irreparable harm.

The era of AI is upon us, and it carries immense transformative potential. Let us exercise caution, responsibility, and collective wisdom to steer its development towards a future that benefits humanity at large.

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** Hisham Jabi is an international development specialist based in Washington, DC. He is the founder of www.PITA.ps and www.PalTechUS.org and the CEO of Jabi Consulting in Washington, DC “www.jabiconsulting.com” He can be reached at [email protected]?