One of the most important developments happening in the world today, indeed, a development we may not be paying enough attention to, is that of artificial intelligence. Generally, friends, I don’t offer my personal opinion on matters such as these, but because of its sheer magnitude, I’ll make an exception. Overall, I will say this particular type of technology is premature. Not every aspect, but much of it. It is already dominating the world scene, it has already become part of our lives, and once again, we have had little say. Although, in the future, artificial intelligence has the potential to make our lives much easier, and much more productive, today its impact may be more harmful than helpful. I think we all need to deeply consider these implications, and proceed with all caution. There are a few “red flags” available that can help us out here in our assessment, and they will certainly indicate to us the need for a more thoughtful, more gradual progression. Let’s take a look.
What is the real motivation behind the development of this technology? Perhaps we can find out by taking an honest look at what has happened already. All the big tech companies, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and others, have appeared several times before the United States Congress, and never once have they been honest and transparent about anything their companies are doing and creating. And, Congress just lets it go. There has been no real accountability whatsoever in their already questionable behavior. Although computer technology, and the many platforms generated by it, have improved our lives substantially, much harm and damage has also ensued. Privacy issues alone have never been properly addressed. Essentially, friends, the United States Government is allowing these huge companies to do whatever they want. There has been little to no oversight. Apparently, this will continue. Because of all this, their true motivation remains hidden. Or does it?
Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook are multi-trillion dollar corporations. Red flag number two. My friends, let me ask you a question. Do Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, and Jeff Bezos have enough money? No, they don’t have enough money. The development of AI technology, which they’re all involved in, is set to make them more trillions. Their true motivation is not hidden. Our common sense shows us. If AI is to improve the well-being of humanity, then those who have developed it will help us pay our rent. Again, how can obscene greed, selfishness, and deception improve our lives? Clearly, it has improved theirs.
The most significant, negative impact artificial intelligence will have on us, is that it will remove the absolute need for every human being to learn how to make their own decisions. It is the human mind, something we already have, that must be developed first. Dear companions, we have the greatest computer ever created, it’s called the brain. The development of our own minds is what we should be investing in. So, would it be appropriate, then, to replace something that has already been given? We have what we need. This is why artificial intelligence is premature for the most part. We haven’t done our work yet. Our interests can be best served through the discovery of our very own selves. Again, an entirely practical matter. It seems to me, as things stand today, AI will have every opportunity to become yet another system of control. A control that will only benefit a certain few. To those of you who are able to think clearly, it would be the worst kind of disaster humanity has ever seen to give our power over to something we have no understanding of.
Having said all the above, there are certain areas of human living that can benefit from AI right now, applications that can proceed with more safety, security, and necessity. Medicine, automation within industry, things of this nature. It’s happening already. With the consideration that it may indeed take away even more jobs, I think it’s a good thing, over all, eventually. But, our devices, internet platforms, social media, search engines, and the like, stay away from them. It is still very important we maintain autonomy in most cases. The fact that we’re not receiving accurate information because of the self-serving algorithms these companies have already created, for example, should give us grave concern. Put simply, the average person does not want to be told what to do. It’s not a good idea anyway. My friends, use your mind, figure things out on your own. Decide for yourself. Get up and lock the front door yourself. Make the coffee yourself. Be consciously involved in your life. Take action on your own terms. The exercising of common sense is always the best choice. You are smarter than you think!
For the most part, then, science and technology have done great things for humanity and the world. But, nothing is perfect. Friends, what a human being can do, a human being should do. What a machine can do, a machine should do. What human intelligence can create, human intelligence should create. But, what human beings can create, artificial intelligence cannot create. It is too early for some of this stuff. We don’t even know what our capabilities are yet. And, let us also remind ourselves of one simple fact. Things can break. Things do break. Computers malfunction, machines break down. Even human beings are fallible. Are we to believe that AI is not? By the way, if we are still searching for truth, and we indeed are, do we think something artificial, something outside of us, can or should provide it?
Ok, friends. We have many problems in the world that need to be worked out. AI is a potential problem we can address today. If we decide to use it, we owe it to ourselves to proceed with caution. We must always ask ourselves who and what will benefit the most by anything that is developed. For most of our history, almost everything that has happened, we have had little say about. Nobody has ever asked us if it’s ok. Honestly, maybe we’re just not comfortable with certain things. If that’s the case, we need to say something today. Indeed, it is our life. It is our world. It’s all up to us.
*Just as a side note, friends, Microsoft Windows is still the most widely used operating system in the world. Their native browser, Edge, is now almost entirely based on AI. What do you think is going to happen next? Well, it is likely the whole Windows operating system will naturally follow. Personally, I’m very uncomfortable with that prospect. Perhaps there is a group of our finest minds who can create a computer operating system that truly serves us. With privacy, autonomy, and choice always available. A system free of a constant bombardment of advertising, money-making schemes, and deceptive tactics of all kinds. Difficult to do, yes. Monopolies rule. I must say, however, not impossible. Where is the money? Where are those who can provide real service to humanity?
In all love, in all wisdom, we find our way.
Be well