WHY AI WON’T CONTROL THE WORLD: A SHORT SYNOPSIS THAT DEBUNKS AI ARMAGEDDON
OpenAI launched ChatGPT4 on March 23, 2023. This marked the day all human labor was to be challenged. With the advanced technology of ChatGPT, answers could be automated, essays could be plagiarized, artists could be mimicked, and many other interesting (but chilling) possibilities were opened by ChatGPT. Many have come to say that coding will be dominated by AI. This means that the need to employ humans to program will be unnecessary. As an aspiring programmer, I’ve wondered about this argument a lot. With the introduction of this advanced chatbot, what will the world come to? Will there be any meaning? Will work even be an option in the future? Most importantly, I asked myself if I should be even remotely scared of AI. Luckily, I wasn’t the only person who was asking these questions. The world was thinking the exact same thing as I was. After I took some time to think and research, I came to the conclusion that AI was nowhere near overpowering programmers or humans in general.
AI vs Human Intelligence
Have you ever heard of the game human vs calculator? The one where one person uses a calculator and the other uses mental math to solve a problem? Who was faster, the calculator or the human?
We used to play this game for the fun of it just so it could become reality. The ongoing problem with advancements in AI is it forces people to think that human thinking is inferior to artificial intelligence. Ultimately, this leads to an increasing number of people relying on technology rather than their own brains. Research has proven that no matter how “flawless” AI proves itself to be, there are certain human qualities that are impossible to be mimicked in technological form. One important distinction between AI and human intelligence is the ability to learn. AI has algorithms that dictate what they can and cannot do. If an argument is passed to the AI that it cannot follow, the software will simply crash. In the case of humans, problem-solving is a skill that exists and can be used when a “different” kind of problem is presented to us. Another distinction lies in judgment. A big reason why many theorize an impending robot apocalypse is because computers lack the right judgment. An article from Forbes states how judgment “distinguishes between what is right and what is wrong”(forbes.com).
Furthermore, the article argues that not a single machine can copy human judgment. In other words, if I were to present a request to make a bomb, or do harm to another person, the robot would have no choice but to take on the task. If I were to present these options to a human with judgment and rationale, the human would say no because both options are wrong. In sci-fi movies, robots use their lack of judgment to “destroy the world.”
Lastly, logic. Logic is technology’s forte. Computers are known to be exceptionally skillful at logical reasoning. Whatever information is given to the computer, it can operate logically. However, human intelligence is capable of not only looking at information logically but also breaking it down, interpreting it, and making connections or extensions from the information to something else. This is a crucial aspect of human intelligence that AI lacks.
Education and AI
As a society, we come closer and closer to idolizing perfection. If you thought it was bad in the past, it’s even worse now. With the production of advanced technology that can perform tasks effortlessly, we push away the possibility of error. We start to prefer using AI to complete our homework or tasks at work simply because it is easier to use a system that is always going to give perfect results. Although we don’t think much of it now, it’s bound to have severe consequences on humanity. The human brain has become an empty vessel. Our brains aren’t “working out” as they should be.
Perfectionism isn’t an ideal complex to have. According to the Harvard Business Review, researchers have found that, “Perfectionism is a much bigger weakness than [job applicants] probably assume”(hbr.org). Thankfully, people are starting to realize that AI isn’t helping students, for example, learn. For example, an increasing number of students use ChatGPT to write their essays. The format used to write these essays is fairly similar no matter what prompt is entered into the chatbot— that is what makes it detectable. In some schools, “Concerned professors told Insider they plan to go back to handwritten assignments and oral exams to avoid the use of generative AI”(businessinsider.com). Having professors revert to old-fashioned methods clearly illustrates how one of the most important institutions feels about AI. Even at my own school, teachers strive to prevent students from using ChatGPT in assignments, tests, and papers. Clearly, education has not welcomed AI with open arms.
Chances of a Robot Apocalypse?
As much as science-fiction fans love to emphasize the impending doom of robots taking over the world, it is highly unlikely that humans will be wiped out by animatronics. There are certain human qualities that technology is incapable of adopting. After all, robots cannot be programmed to feel or to empathize with others. Robots were created to fulfill tasks with efficiency and perfection. As a result, robots are restricted to certain positions. Humans are extremely versatile. Unlike robots, humans have unrestricted abilities. They can have emotion, they can have jobs, they can have families, etc. Humans are capable of balancing multiple lives at once. Robots only have one: to complete whatever they were programmed to do. A world with robots who are restricted to what they know is no world at all. That is why it is encouraged by humans to other humans to “get out of their comfort zones” and explore.
In Conclusion
As much as AI advances itself, the capabilities and intelligence of humans remains vital. It is important to not forget that in the midst of technology, a human brain is still valuable. Most of humanity’s greatest discoveries and achievements were made possible thanks to the human brain. How do you think all those scientists of the past came about their discoveries? They had the ambition, the creativity to strive for their passions. AI and technology shouldn’t make you stop using your brain, but make you use it more. AI can leave a positive impact if used in moderation and appropriately. Use ChatGPT to tutor yourself, use it to give you ideas on a new coding project, and any other idea you come up with. The important thing is that you don’t lose your brilliant mind in the midst of change.
Works Cited
Hart, Jordan. “College Professors Are Going Back to Paper Exams and Handwritten Essays to Fight Students Using CHATGPT.” Business Insider, Business Insider, www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-driving-return-to-paper-exams-written-essays-at-universities 2023-8. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024.
Joshi, Naveen. “Human vs Ai: Who Would Win in the Iconic Mind Combat?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/naveenjoshi/2022/08/12/human-vs-ai-who-would-win-in-the-iconic-mind -combat/?sh=152e7ef95aa2.
Swider, Brian. “The Pros and Cons of Perfectionism, According to Research.” Harvard Business Review, 17 Sept. 2021, hbr.org/2018/12/the-pros-and-cons-of-perfectionism-according-to-research.