10 Things that Will Happen When Artificial Intelligence Takes Over the World (Illustrated)
Meet my new robotic writing partner: ChatGPT. But I did the drawings myself (as far as you know, anyway). WRITTEN BY A.I., ILLUSTRATED BY PETER MOORE (PROBABLY)
I WAS OUT TO LUNCH WITH MY CREATIVE BROS YESTERDAY, drinking red wine and stoking paranoia about how artificial intelligence was going to f-up our creative lives. One pal and I seemed most at risk: We’re both illustrators and writers, and our computers watch us work and think—hell, I could do that. Meanwhile another friend, a clay-hound, said: “I haven’t seen a computer throw a pot, yet.” Then we unloaded on him about 3D printing, so he could feel included in the general despair.
The proximate cause of this unpleasant conversation was a piece that ran in the September issue of the Atlantic, called “Does Sam Altman know what he’s creating?” Altman, of course, is the visionary leader of Open AI, which unleashed ChatGPT on the world. Combined with the illustration robot Dall-E, these AI creators can do everything I do—writing, drawing, smirking—only 10,000 times as fast and consulting a billion data points and visuals.
Kinda makes a guy want to order another red wine and avoid his iPad for the afternoon. Which I did!
But this morning I’m thinking: Beat Sam Altman? Not happening. Join him? Maybe!
So I opened ChatGPT and typed the prompt: “Write an article about the Worst Things that Will Happen With Artificial Intelligence.” Then—channeling John Henry, the miner who challenged a steam drill and died for his trouble—I asked Dall-E to illustrate the resulting article, and added my own cartoons as well.
You can tell me whether man or machine won, in the first-ever Road2Elsewhere poll, below.
(Or just ask your chatbot to fill it out. So much easier that way.)
Now dive into the rich ChatGPT prose, which conjures the end of the world in the blandest terms possible. Not sure whether that’s reassuring, or even more terrifying.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) has undoubtedly revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with technology. From self-driving cars to virtual personal assistants, AI has brought about incredible advancements. However, like any powerful tool, AI also has its darker side1, with the potential for some significant negative consequences. In this article, we'll explore the worst things that might happen with artificial intelligence.
1. Job Displacement:
One of the most immediate concerns is the displacement of human jobs2. As AI systems become more sophisticated, they can perform tasks traditionally carried out by humans, leading to job losses across various industries. This can result in economic instability, increased unemployment rates, and potential social unrest.
2. Algorithmic Bias:
AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. If the training data is biased, AI systems can perpetuate and even exacerbate societal prejudices and inequalities. For example, biased AI systems in hiring or lending processes can discriminate against certain groups based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
3. Privacy Invasion:
With the increasing prevalence of AI-powered surveillance systems and data analysis, there is a growing concern about the erosion of personal privacy. AI can track individuals' every move, predict their behaviors, and analyze their personal data without their consent, raising serious ethical and legal questions.
4. Autonomous Weapons:
Militarized AI systems pose a grave threat to global security. Autonomous weapons, capable of making life-or-death decisions without human intervention, can lead to unintended conflicts and loss of civilian lives3. The development of such AI-powered weaponry also risks sparking an arms race among nations.
[NOTE: This is where I ran out of credits on DALL-E. But you get the…er…picture..]
5. Deepfake Manipulation:
Deepfake technology can create highly convincing fake videos and audio recordings of individuals, making it increasingly challenging to discern truth from fiction. This has profound implications for misinformation and propaganda, potentially undermining trust in media, politics, and even the justice system4.
6. Superintelligent AI:
While the idea of superintelligent AI is largely speculative, it remains a concern among AI ethicists and experts. A superintelligent AI with goals misaligned with human interests could pose an existential risk to humanity5. Ensuring the safe development of such advanced AI is a significant challenge.
7. Loss of Control6:
As AI systems become more autonomous and complex, there is a growing fear of losing control over them. The ability to understand, predict, and modify AI behavior may become increasingly difficult, leading to unintended consequences and risks.
8. Economic Inequality:
AI could exacerbate economic inequality by concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a few organizations or individuals who control advanced AI systems. This could lead to a further divide between the haves and the have-nots, amplifying existing social disparities.
9. Psychological Impact:
Excessive reliance on AI for decision-making and personal assistance could lead to a decline in critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence7 among individuals. Over reliance on AI can result in a lack of agency and resilience in the face of challenges.
10. Ethical Dilemmas:
AI can create complex ethical dilemmas that society is ill-prepared to handle. Questions about the rights and responsibilities of AI, as well as moral decisions made by AI systems in critical situations, require careful consideration and regulation8.
In conclusion, while artificial intelligence holds immense promise, there are legitimate concerns about the potential negative consequences associated with its development and deployment. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial for governments, organizations, and individuals to:
engage in responsible AI development
implement robust ethical guidelines
and prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI systems.
Only by addressing these challenges can we harness the full potential of AI while minimizing its worst potential outcomes.
So, in sum, we only need to worry about losing our jobs, losing status because of a rogue algorithm, having our computers peep at us, being blown up by autonomous weapons, being manipulated by deepfakes, being outsmarted by superintelligent AI, losing control (of ourselves and our bladders), being relegated to high-tech serfdom, going nuts, and losing our way ethically.
Not so bad, really.
Now, remind me what the benefits will be.
No shit. As dark as the ocean around the Titanic, with that entombed submersible sub.
Cartoonist for hire. Cheap!
Have you wet your pants yet?
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/
I got a combined 1,200 on my SATs. I don’t stand a chance.
Ditto the part about wetting pants.
No worries. You can order emotional intelligence on Amazon, for delivery tomorrow.
Can’t we just ask Siri what’s right?
This post made me feel very emmpurned, Peter.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣