Intelligent machines and humans
by CFA’s Guest Article for M.E 4
Although we haven’t gotten to that stage yet, but are we ideologically equipped to address the challenges, we will face in this new world? Preparedness gives room to avert future occurrences.
Presently, Intelligent Machines known as robotics are bringing profound, unstoppable change globally. It is imperative that government faces this and come up with a new industrial strategy.
The truth remains that for some of us, especially those in advanced countries. We have seen and experienced how intelligent machines are outperforming humans when it comes to performing certain tasks. The message remains that our functions in the office are facing huge threats due to ever evolving intelligent machines. Intelligent machines are already doing excellent jobs, perhaps jobs, which humans could not perform.
Clerical workers for instance, who perform tedious tasks such as writing reports or drawing up spreadsheets are getting an easy replacement with software but what other jobs are under threat? That may not be necessary; the fact is that more than 30 percent of humans could lose their work in few decades according to studies.
Emerging technology could make the trend more uncertain and exacerbating. The recent technologies that are emerging at the moment are different from the previous waves of industrial advancement. Now, It is not just working class jobs, primarily done with the hands, that robotics threaten. Funny enough, Intelligent Machines are already diagnosing health conditions, carrying out criminal investigations, writing annual reports, researching criminal cases in court, designing software and pouring our coffee in hotels, etc.
According to Richard and Daniel Susskind, in their study titled “The Future of the Professions.” They argue that professions such as medicine, law, accountancy and engineering could bear the first impact of the rise of the machines.
If that is the case, why do we need a GP, when a robot can read our complex physiologies and prescribe, manufacture and distribute the exact blends of medications we need?
Various studies have proven that Robots and AI may take 50% human jobs in 30 years. In the next three decades, half of the world’s population could be out of jobs, this is due to the exponential advancements in cybernetics and artificial intelligence, experts have warned.
According to Moshe Vardi, Computer Science Professor, Rice University, Texas says intelligent machines will take over jobs across various fields, such as driving and even sex workers. Robots would replace human beings in different professions, which would immensely affect the landscape of human productivity. The implication of this is that both men and women would be equally affected in the future.
Apparently, the world is approaching a time when machines will be able to outperform humans virtually at all tasks in higher dimensions. I think that society needs to confront this question before it is upon us: if machines are capable of doing almost any work humans can do, what will humans do?
Globally, nearly a third of UK jobs are facing eradication within a decade; this is what we must prepare for to avert future occurrences. These scenarios should make our minds and the government device initiatives and plan ahead.
Enterprise and hard work grow businesses that become employees and contribute to the fabric of society in many ways, social and cultural, as well as through taxation. But just as the great capitalists of the last industrial revolution realized they needed to build homes and provide healthcare for their workers, the business owners of the future will have to adapt to the world where productivity is dramatically improved through automation.
Chinese are not exempting themselves from emerging technologies. Most factories are resorting to investing in robotics and intelligent machines that would perform human tasks. Some factories in China are already investing in billions.
Interestingly, the life of complete leisure, which will most likely become a reality by 2045, will not be conducive to global economy and human productivity in general.
The fact is that I do not find this a promising future. It is not just promising because I do not locate the prospect of leisure-only life appealing. In many ways than one, “I believe that work is essential to good human being. All humans have to be productive, and you cannot be productive when work eludes you.
The solution we could prefer to this imminent tech emergence is preparedness. It is imperative that we have concerted action to keep technology a good servant and not an evil master.
Meanwhile, another way we could prepare for this is by democratizing robotics; this will make for a better outcome. For instance, if the power of the intelligent machine is spread to the point that we can link AI (Artificial Intelligence)power to each’s will. You would have your AI agent; everybody would have their AI agent. Then if somebody did try to something negative, then the collective will of others could overcome that bad actor.
Finally, technology is good but it is important humans be in total control. Life without being productive could be worthless.
CFA presents Tech Trends on Channels Television and Tech on Wheels with CFA radio show airing on Love FM Abuja, PH, Umuahia & ABS Awka. He blogs on www.techsmart.ng
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