Sitting at the kitchen table with my mom, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to have this kind of intense, but at the same time loving discussions between generations. We often hold opposing political views, and sometimes completely different points of view, but we have always enjoyed these debates and the opportunity to find justification and common ground that they offer. It was on this evening that the idea of artificial intelligence was touched upon.
My mother, a relatively cautious person, was curious to learn about the potential impact that artificial intelligence can have on society, especially about the possibility of its self-sufficiency. Although she doesn’t have much technical knowledge in computer science, she has a deep understanding of society and its perception of artificial intelligence – often little more than a demonic robot from Terminator.
My instinct in this debate, as with many, is to take a defensive stance, cite leading thinkers in the field, and cite cutting-edge research to support my claims. The huge amount of evidence that I have encountered while reading the works of outstanding scientists in this field confirms my belief in the phenomenal capabilities of the AI generation, which, in addition to the ability to assimilate knowledge, could rebuild its own hardware and internal structures, but as we continued the discussion, I began to see that the concerns of my mothers were not groundless. Although I have always seen that artificial intelligence can bring huge benefits to society, I have not fully considered the potential negative consequences of its rapid development and the feelings that it may cause someone who is not aware of the main issues of the discussion.
My mother pointed out that artificial intelligence could potentially lead to job changes and even social upheaval if it wasn’t carefully regulated. Despite my initial skepticism, I found myself nodding in agreement. As we talked, I became more and more open to the non-quantifiable human aspect of this debate. I came to realize that my mother’s point of view was shaped by her own experiences and values. Having grown up at a time when rapid automation was destroying the traditional way of life, she saw firsthand that technological changes can have unintended consequences, such as collapse Dot.com bubble in 2001. This discussion has not dampened my enthusiasm for the possibilities of machine learning, but it has increased my sensitivity to the sensitive nature of the debate and the well-founded concerns that many have.