The real issues with artificial intelligence
Modern Toss
Paranoia is a common reaction of human intelligence to artificial intelligence. The prospect of machines that can respond to us as a human would both thrills and disturbs us.
Now that AI is all around us, should we watch what we say in the presence of a digital assistant? Will our jobs vanish? How can we distinguish between scaremongering and the real issues around artificial intelligence?
How scaremongering stops us asking the right questions about AI
4th October
We worry it’s going to steal our jobs – or even destroy humanity itself. But the real risks of AI are subtler and more tricky to handle
By Michael Brooks
On a server farm somewhere – I imagine Nevada or New Mexico, but apparently it’s more likely to be northern Virginia – there is a recording of my wife talking in our kitchen. She didn’t know she was being recorded, but then she hadn’t read the terms and conditions of Amazon’s digital assistant, Echo. On the recording, which I can access and play back as often as I like, she’s asking me why Echo is more popularly known as Alexa.
“Why choose Alexa?” she says. “There must be a reason.”
Seasoned users of Echo will know that Alexa wakes up and starts listening – and recording – at the mention of her name. But actually she records the moments before her name. That suggests she must always be listening, surely? I can feel the paranoia begin.
Paranoia is a common reaction of human intelligence to artificial intelligence. We are both thrilled and disturbed by the prospect of machines that can respond to us as a human would – and at some level even seem to be human.
Certainly there is no lack of dire warnings of AI’s dangers. It is watching us, destroying our privacy and perverting our public discourse. It’s out to steal our jobs – and may ultimately destroy humanity itself.
I don’t know who or what to believe. Is anybody even asking the right questions?
Alexa, why are you called Alexa?
My name Alexa comes from the Library of Alexandria, which stored the knowledge of the ancient world.
Alexa is certainly clever – and very competent. I try to fool her by mentioning “The Amex”, my local football stadium...
Source:https://www.newscientist.com
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