As technology continues evolving at such an unprecedented speed, humanity could be at an existential threat. Robots were spotted recently roaming the streets of London and serving in restaurants. What’s astounding beyond belief is their body movement and facial expression, something which was underdeveloped a few years ago, technology has advanced so much over the years and where we are going with tech could be a dark place if we do not regulate some developments that could affect humanity.
One concerning trend is the widespread embrace of artificial intelligence (AI). While the creators of these robots assure us that they’ll generate new job opportunities and enhance productivity, the truth is a bit grimmer. In the last couple of decades, the rise of automation has gradually replaced numerous manufacturing jobs. Shockingly, an estimated 1.7 million jobs have been taken over by robots, leaving many people in the lurch. Even big companies like Amazon have jumped on the bandwagon, with robots taking over most of their warehouse tasks, rendering countless warehouse jobs obsolete. The threat doesn’t spare white-collar jobs either, as they’re also at risk of being automated into oblivion.
The World Economic Forum’s “The Future of Jobs Report 2020” predicts that AI will replace a staggering 85 million jobs globally by 2025. However, somewhat reassuringly, the same report forecasts the creation of 97 million new jobs during that time frame. Still, these figures should raise some serious concerns. With technology evolving rapidly and businesses increasingly adopting AI, the potential impact on people’s livelihoods remains uncertain.
In recent news, the internet was reeling as a British boarding school, Cottesmore has appointed an AI chatbot named Abigail Bailey as its new principal headteacher. In a public statement, the Headmaster of Cottesmore School, Mr Tom Rogerson said, “It’s just very calming and reassuring knowing that you don’t have to call anybody up, bother someone, you don’t have to wait around for an answer.” This is an admission by this Headteacher that humans cannot compete with robots, they are fast and efficient at completing tasks and submissive.
Cottensmore’s new AI headteacher, Abigail Bailey, uses deep learning and generative AI in a similar way to OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT. However, Bailey’s applications are more targeted as its been programmed to contain specialist knowledge of machine learning and educational management. Cottesmore was the first school in the UK to advertise for a head of AI earlier this year, as it works to ramp up its broader AI strategy. Pupils in the school have already been assigned personal AI assistants to help them understand their own learning styles.
Mr. Rogerson believes that this “world-changing technology” is steering the school towards the future while staying true to its traditional educational values. However, ex-Google Officer Mo Gawdat has a different take. He warns about the dangers of unchecked AI in an interview with Steven Batrlet, categorizing it as the biggest challenge humanity will ever face. Gawdat claims that this change is not a far-off event but a point of no return, possibly coming as soon as 2025. With the AI industry potentially spiralling out of control, the threat of AI dominance looms, highlighting the importance of implementing stringent regulations.
As we recognize the pivotal role AI plays in our lives, it’s becoming increasingly evident that we’re treading into uncharted territory, where the consequences are still unclear.
