In light of recent calls from AI experts and industry executives for a six-month pause in the development of systems more powerful than OpenAI’s GPT-4, the question arises: should we halt AI development, as these industry leaders suggest?
South Korean-German philosopher Byung-Chul Han, in his book “Non-Things: Upheaval in the Lifeworld,” contends that artificial intelligence transforms objects into info matter, enabling humans to not only allow things to act but also think on their behalf. While AI tools can streamline and enhance our work, overreliance on technology may lead to its domination over our tasks. This concern, however, extends beyond mere efficiency.
The Future of Life Institute’s letter emphasizes that “powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive, and their risks will be manageable.” In a world where AI-generated images can deceive us and fake news spreads rapidly, we must ask ourselves if society is ready for AI’s widespread use. As the letter states, “such decisions must not be delegated to unelected tech leaders.”
Another pressing issue is the potential massive loss of jobs due to AI, which we previously discussed in terms of reskilling. Should we adopt a conservative approach to this matter, or contemplate the broader implications of AI development on society?
In conclusion, while we may not have definitive answers, raising these questions is crucial. As the world continues to evolve, we must prepare ourselves and harness AI to our advantage.
Our article on how AI is transforming staff augmentation in today´s workplace is highly recommended, you can find it in this blog.
