In this blog post, we will look at the impact of the evolution of artificial intelligence and tools on human civilization from various angles to see whether it will be a blessing or a curse.
From the apes of the primitive age to modern humans, human civilization has been constantly developing and evolving. From the four ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Indus, Egypt, and the Yellow River civilizations to the modern information age, the evolution of tools used by humans has played a key role in the development of civilization. Through the use of fire and the invention of stone tools, humans gradually transitioned from a hunter-gatherer culture to an agricultural society, which led to the beginning of the four ancient civilizations. After that, as technology for making bronze and ironware was developed, tools evolved and human civilization developed to the point where it reached modern civilization. Today, we use a huge number of tools, from electronic devices such as computers and smartphones to spoons, chopsticks, cars, and shoes. It is now impossible to imagine life without tools, and human civilization has developed alongside tools from the beginning.
It is clear that the proper use and development of tools has brought humanity to where it is today. The development of civilization and the development of tools are inextricably linked. However, the time has come to discuss how far the development of tools can go. What would happen if tools were no longer just objects that help human activities? What would happen if tools had human capabilities and even surpassed them? The 2016 match between the AI program AlphaGo and Lee Sedol was a shocking demonstration of the fact that tools can surpass humans. AlphaGo, which was just a Go program developed by Google, beat Lee Sedol, who was called the best Go player in the world, with an overwhelming score of 4:1. Artificial intelligence is ultimately just a tool invented by humans, but the incident in which the most complex game developed by humans, Go, was defeated by a tool, has made the world aware that tools are no longer just following human commands, but can exceed human capabilities.
Of course, this does not mean that we should fear artificial intelligence AlphaGo right now. Although it has surpassed humans in Go, AlphaGo is just a Go program and does not have many other abilities that humans have. What we should be wary of is not AlphaGo itself, but the future that AlphaGo implies. If the tools that have been following human commands and helping human development gradually develop and acquire better intelligence than humans, the relationship between humans and tools that has been maintained so far will change significantly. The emergence of AlphaGo suggests that such a future may become a reality, not a fiction in science fiction novels. Therefore, at a time when interest in artificial intelligence is as high as it is now, it is necessary to discuss how far the development of artificial intelligence should be allowed.
Artificial intelligence is currently the pinnacle of the development of tools that we can think of. There are two types of AI: “strong AI,” which has self-awareness and can recognize itself and do everything that humans can do, and “weak AI,” which does what it is programmed to do but is not aware of what it is doing. It is not possible to develop strong AI with current technology, but if the technology advances to the point where it becomes possible, we should limit it. If we apply a self that thinks like a human to a machine, an “artificial life form” is born, which can cause serious confusion. If a machine that thinks and acts like a human is recognized as life, the machine will no longer be a tool of humans but will be elevated to the status of an equal life form. A world in which we live with machines that are infinitely reproducible and whose athletic ability transcends that of humans will never be peaceful.
Of course, measures can be taken to prevent such risks. The three principles of robotics proposed by American author Isaac Asimov are a good example. First, a robot must not harm a human being or, by its inaction, allow a human being to be harmed. Second, a robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, unless such orders would conflict with the first principle. Third, robots must protect their own existence, except when this protection is in violation of the first and second principles. However, it cannot be asserted that these safeguards guarantee peace between humanity and artificial intelligence. In the movie “I, Robot,” an artificial intelligence that reinterprets these three principles on its own decides that human behavior will destroy the Earth and cause humans to become extinct, and then attempts to control humans. Of course, there is exaggeration in the cinematic presentation, but the possibility that humans will not be able to understand the decisions of artificial intelligence is a cause for concern, as AlphaGo defeated Lee Sedol 9th Dan by playing a move that humans cannot understand in the game between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol 9th Dan. Even if there are safeguards such as the Three Laws, a society in which machines with superior physical abilities coexist with humans will never be completely safe.
In the case of weak AI, the benefits that artificial intelligence can bring are too great to oppose its development blindly. Imagine artificial intelligence being deployed in extreme environments that are difficult for humans to access. If artificial intelligence is developed to be used in extreme situations such as rescuing people from fires and underwater construction, it could greatly benefit humanity. However, the range to which artificial intelligence can be applied is not limited to such indispensable situations. There are various fields where humans can do things, but AI can do them more efficiently. For example, if a pharmacist could manufacture drugs without a prescription, it would be much faster and more efficient for an AI to do the job instead of a pharmacist. If such an AI appeared in a capitalist society, human pharmacists would soon lose their jobs. In fact, many predict that as AI advances, various occupations such as doctors, pharmacists, and teachers will disappear.
In a capitalist system that pursues profit, the development of artificial intelligence is welcome from the perspective of companies. Since AI does not require payment, and its work efficiency is superior to that of humans, the net profit of companies will increase. However, from the perspective of employees, they will lose their jobs to machines. The expectation that the development of AI will replace a significant portion of human roles also means that many people may lose their jobs. In the long run, the gap between the rich and the poor may become even wider than it is now, causing serious social imbalance. In other words, artificial intelligence, which was developed to advance civilization, may end up plunging civilization into crisis.
Ultimately, the development of artificial intelligence is like a double-edged sword. If used well, it can be a blessing that further advances human civilization, but if used incorrectly, it can pose a threat to human well-being. If the development of artificial intelligence can prevent the damage it causes to humanity, I would be in favor of its development. However, at present, it is dangerous to blindly pursue development without a clear solution to the job imbalance and human alienation caused by the development of artificial intelligence. It is also not realistic to ban the development of artificial intelligence. It is urgent to allow development but to minimize the damage that can occur in a capitalist system and to establish social safeguards to prevent the problem of a small number of wealthy people monopolizing the privileges of artificial intelligence.
The representative safety measures currently being discussed include job sharing and a basic income system. Job sharing means sharing another stable job when a certain job category disappears. For example, instead of working 40 hours per person in a job that is unlikely to be automated, the job is shared with someone who has lost their job to artificial intelligence for 20 hours. The basic income system is a system that provides a minimum living expense to all members of society regardless of their wealth, income, labor, or intention. It is expected that these two systems will be able to solve the problem of jobs disappearing due to artificial intelligence to some extent, but the realistic feasibility and specific system details have not yet been finalized.
As such, artificial intelligence has been a topic that has consistently attracted the attention of many people since the past. While some people expect a future in which artificial intelligence solves difficult problems for us or in which we coexist peacefully with intelligent artificial life forms, others are concerned about a dystopia in which humans are dominated by machines. It is still unknown whether the development of artificial intelligence will be a gift to humanity or a Pandora’s box that should not be opened. However, since it is practically impossible to prevent the opening of this box, research should be conducted simultaneously with the development of artificial intelligence to establish social safeguards. In order for the development of the tool of artificial intelligence to benefit humanity, we will need to prepare in advance in various ways.
