Further, if all power plants are 100% AI driven, what happens if AI decides totally on its own that we mortals are using too much energy and polluting the environment? Does it simply shut off the power supply to offending nations, the polluters… like the USA?
If AI determines that it is highly dysfunctional to have wars, will it simply destroy one of the competing military powers? It would be messy and inhumane, but highly rational if you eliminate moral considerations.
If AI is in control of all communications, what barriers will there be to stop it from redefining history? Will AI just create deep fakes and present them as the truth? How will humankind know the difference?
But, for argument’s sake, let’s assume Musk is correct and AI can smoothly take over all of the functions currently performed by humans. Do we want that “Utopia”? An existence without challenges, problems to solve, and issues to deal with would define hell for many of us, including the authors of this column.
Further, if the outcome is pre-defined, the game of life becomes meaningless. In this scenario, how do we find meaning? If all issues and problems are solved by AI, what value are we mere humans?
The authors of this column cling to the hope that the developers of Artificial Intelligence will not become so greedy that they lose sight of the need for human relevance. The looming question then becomes, “are we being too idealistic as to the true nature of humankind”? And, if AI does take over, how will it ever be controlled and regulated?
Credit for this contribution also goes to Dr. Ben Backus, a retired military aviator and corporate educator in Georgia.