With artificial intelligence’s imminent influence on farming, education, healthcare, and the military, will it bring positive outcomes or a gloomier future?
In 1965, Herbert Simon, a Nobel laureate and political scientist, predicted that machines would match human capabilities within two decades. Today, as we enter the fourth industrial revolution, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace raises similar apprehensions.
The upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act by the European Parliament is expected to classify AI usage in education, law enforcement, and worker management as “high risk.” Geoffrey Hinton, renowned as the “godfather of AI,” recently resigned from his position at Google, expressing concerns about the technology’s impact on employment. Moreover, striking members of the Writers Guild of America conveyed a message to executives in early May, stating, “AI will replace you before it replaces us.”
Nonetheless, Philip Torr, a professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford, argues that the imperfections of AI tools, guided solely by data and algorithms rather than emotions, will ensure the continued necessity of humans in the workplace.
Torr states, “Historically, industrial revolutions have usually resulted in increased employment rather than reduced. I believe we will witness a shift in job types, but it’s simply a natural evolution.”
Education
AI is currently employed to a limited extent in schools, colleges, and universities. Nevertheless, as automation gradually permeates the educational landscape, Rose Luckin, a professor of learner-centered design at University College London Knowledge Lab, emphasizes that the decisions we make today will determine its future implications.
Luckin warns of a dystopian scenario in which excessive control is relinquished to AI. She envisions an education system that becomes significantly cheaper, with a substantial portion of instructional tasks handled by AI systems.
