What Elon Musk's Warning about AI Really Means

In the pre Artificial intelligence and automation economy era, it's hard for humans to imagine what they are up against. Read on.

Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that Artificial Intelligence is the ‘greatest risk we face as a Civilization.' And he's not alone in thinking that:

Automation of jobs and Global warming aren't just dangers in and of themselves, but it's how human societies react to these events, that's worrying leaders, scientists and think-tanks.

If biased algorithms are any indication, Artificial Intelligence could be very disruptive on how human beings see and interact the the world.

Elon Musk is not one to shy away from doomsday scenarios:

Powerful technology will threaten all human jobs, could even spark a war.

The Morality of Innovation & Dangers of Technology

Speaking recently at a National Governors Association Meeting in Rhode Island, Musk issued a stark warning about the potential dangers of AI if left unchecked. Does business and do technology leaders have a responsibility in creating safeguards against the dangers of Artificial Intelligence? Here are some of the problems:

• Job displacement by AI and robots expected to peak around 2030
• Less members of society participating in the labour force could stifle the global economy
• Exponential tech provides innovation that increases economic inequality
• Corporate monopolies will only grow in power and influence

Musk and others see a disconnect between fast moving developments in Artificial Intelligence and Government.

Even in Silicon Valley, it's not clear if Silicon Valley itself has a moral responsibility to stop developing robots, that likely simply make the rich richer amounting for the disruption of millions of jobs.

With companies such as Amazon, Softbank, Google, Alibaba and Microsoft poised to make a lot of profit from AI and robots; the ethical considerations and future ramifications don't appear to be a deal-breaker.

AI’s a rare case where we need to be proactive in regulation, instead of reactive. Because by the time we are reactive with AI regulation, it’s too late. - Elon Musk

AI Displacing Human Jobs Widely Expected to be Imminent

The 2020s could set the stage for how dangerous AI will be for humanity, for future generations. The job crunch is expected to impact industries such as:

• Finance
• Retail
• Transportation, logistics and warehouses
• Construction and Real-Estate
• Media, Marketing and Sales
• Dozens of other industries

The Age of AI and Difficult Ethics

Elon Musk numbers in a growing camp of the ultra-elite who are both advocates of transhumanism and cyberlibertarianism, and yet often warn of the dangers of technological advance to the fragility of human systems.

While AI is widely expected to boost the global economy and create more jobs, it's unlikely to create as many as are lost in the short-term. The impact of AI on the economy remains an experiment in Capitalism that could change the course of human history.

This is code red, a firehose, a tsunami, that’s coming our way. - Gavin Newsom

The short-term predicament is the possible significant upheaval of the bottom 65% of workers where AI & ethics become a crippling issue of civil unrest. #MuskAI #RetailApocalypse

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Does Artificial Intelligence and will robots truly contribute to human well-being, equality and the improvement of civilisation?