NEWSLETTER
Image of Dall-E
In a world where technology is evolving rapidly, one theme stands out and captures the imagination of scientists, technology enthusiasts and the general public:
The rise of artificial intelligence.
As we face a new era, the question looms large:
What does the future hold for ai?
Stay with me and let's all find out together!
ai has already come a long way, from simple rule-based algorithms to deep learning models that mimic human cognition when solving problems and making decisions.
Image by author
ai technologies are classified into three main groups based on their ability to imitate human traits.
1. Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) or ai with specialized skills
ANI, often known as weak ai or narrow ai, focuses on specific applications or tasks. It is designed to perform single tasks and attempts to imitate human actions within a limited range of variables, limits, and scenarios.
Examples of ANI are prevalent in technologies such as Siri's speech and language processing on iPhones or visual recognition capabilities in autonomous vehicles.
2. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or ai equal to human level
AGI, also known as strong ai or deep ai, refers to the ability of machines to understand, learn, and use intelligence to address complex problems in a similar way to humans. AGI operates on a “theory of mind” framework, allowing it to perceive emotions, beliefs, and thought processes in other intelligent entities.
AGI remains a theoretical concept, but has garnered significant interest from major technology companies. Microsoft, for example, invested $1 billion in AGI through OpenAI. Today we already have ChatGPT-4, with its ability to address a wide range of problems and demonstrate high-level cognitive abilities, representing an early form of AGI.
3. Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) or ai that exceeds human intellectual capacity
ASI represents a form of ai that surpasses human intellect, capable of outperforming humans at every task. ASI is not only adept at understanding human emotions and experiences, but is also expected to possess his own emotions, beliefs, and desires.
While ASI is currently a theoretical concept, its intended decision-making and problem-solving abilities are expected to be far superior to human capabilities.
Before delving into this super intelligence, let's try to remember a little…
The concept of ai has oscillated between fear and fascination for years, even before the current term. The prevailing belief was that true ai had to mirror human forms, obscuring the reality that ai had been operational for quite some time.
Notable achievements, such as surpassing human abilities in games like chess, were just the tip of the iceberg. Since the 1980s, ai has been a key component in various industries.
Garry Kasparov playing against Deep Blue, the chess-playing computer.
The 1990s saw a transformation in machine learning with the advent of probabilistic and Bayesian methods. These advances laid the foundation for some of the most prevalent ai applications today, including the ability to navigate massive data sets.
This capability was extended to perform semantic analysis of plain text, allowing web users to effortlessly Locate the desired information among billions of web pages by entering simple queries.
Superintelligence is not just about crunching numbers at lightning speed. It is a holistic improvement in all facets of intelligence, from reasoning and creativity to self-improvement.
Imagine a world where machines innovate, think and learn at levels beyond human capabilities. We are not in such a world yet, but as our technology evolves, this scenario could be closer than we think.
Recent advances, such as OpenAI's GPT-4, show the rapid progress of ai. Taking into account all the advances experienced in fields such as machine learning or quantum computing, the emergence of superintelligence is increasingly plausible.
And this brings us to…
The benefits of superintelligence are limitless. From the medical field with ai-based disease predictors to finance or climate change, a hypothetical superintelligence could improve human society. However, the actual level of ai is already causing major impacts, so a superintelligence could make these scenarios even worse:
1. Transform the workplace
Let's forget the old idea that ai will only affect low-skilled jobs. Thanks to advances in generative ai, such as DALL-E and Mid-Journey, even creative professions are feeling the pressure.
These artificial intelligence systems can produce art, literature and videos in an instant. They are so fast that they are starting to outperform human journalists in writing basic news articles.
This shift is raising big questions about the future of jobs, especially in fields we once thought were safe from automation.
2. Navigating the intellectual property labyrinth
The rise of ai is causing a storm in the world of intellectual property. When an ai creates a song or a logo, who owns it?
- The programmer?
- The ai itself?
- The creators who provided the training data?
This problem is becoming more complicated as artificial intelligence systems, trained on existing content, are now capable of producing incredibly convincing fake content. This dilemma has even led to legal confrontations,ai-image-generator-stable-diffusion-a98eeaaeb2bf13c5e8874ceb6a8ce196#:~:text=In%20a%20lawsuit%20filed%20early,to%20build%20a%20competing%20business.%E2%80%9D” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”> like Getty Images suing Stability ai over the use of photographs.
3. The challenge of misinformation
ai's ability to create realistic and fake content cheaply and quickly is a double-edged sword. This technology could greatly amplify the spread of misinformation online, a concern that is growing as false content becomes more sophisticated.
4. ai in decision making
Governments and businesses are increasingly relying on ai to make decisions in areas such as social welfare and law enforcement. These systems assign risk scores that can greatly affect people's lives.
However, there is a problem: uncontrolled ai can replicate and even worsen existing social prejudices.
Humans must stay informed, guiding ai decisions to avoid unfair outcomes.
With great power comes great responsibility. As ai continues its rapid advancement, we must keep up. Policymakers, industry experts, and developers must collaborate on rules and regulations for ai.
Ensuring that these intelligent systems align with human values and ethics is paramount. Without proper checks and balances, unchecked ai could lead to dystopian outcomes, where machines could dominate humanity. The clock is ticking for decision makers to craft policies that keep pace with this evolving technology.
Furthermore, the equitable use and distribution of ai is a pressing concern. Superintelligent ai could confer immense power on those who control it, creating disparities in wealth and influence. Ensuring the beneficial and equitable use of ai is a challenge that society must address head-on.
This brings us to…
Singularity theory was first coined by John von Neumann in 1958. For those unfamiliar with this concept, it describes a hypothetical moment in which ai develops self-awareness or acquires capabilities so advanced that it evolves beyond of human control.
Image by Craig Bellamy
In this scenario, ai would autonomously improve at an exponential rate, far beyond human understanding or control.
However, this concept is very controversial.
Critics of this theory argue that it underestimates the human mind and overestimates the potential capabilities of ai. And should this event happen, the timing of it is also a topic of much debate among scientists and technologists.
So let's not panic just yet!
The trajectory of ai development is promising. By taking a balanced approach, we can reap the benefits of ai advances while effectively addressing its challenges.
At this critical moment in history, we must approach the dawn of this superintelligence with a mix of enthusiasm, caution, and responsibility.
How do we prepare for what is coming?
The answer is to continually raise awareness and educate ourselves. ai's extraordinary ability to automate routine tasks not only saves time but also enables humans to do more complex and imaginative work.
Take healthcare, for example: ai's ability to interpret medical images can save lives. Similarly, in transportation, the role of ai is growing, evident in the popularity of autonomous vehicles like Teslas.
Future developments promise even more sophisticated automotive technologies. Additionally, ai is streamlining logistics and supply chains, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Joseph Ferrer He is an analytical engineer from Barcelona. He graduated in physical engineering and currently works in the field of Data Science applied to human mobility. He is a part-time content creator focused on data science and technology. You can contact him at LinkedIn, Twitter either Half.
