For the past two weeks, we’ve been exploring the underlying anxieties people feel about Artificial Intelligence (AI).  It all started with “Fear of the Unknown”, understanding that it’s human nature to be wary of things we don’t totally understand.  Last week, we added “Unprecedented Speed of Change” to the list, highlighting how the rapid evolution of AI leaves many feeling overwhelmed and struggling to keep up with the pace of it all. Today, we build on those themes. If we don’t know where it’s going and it’s moving fast, the third fear is that we won’t be able to steer it – Lack of Human Control.

This goes beyond “Robots take over the world” themes.  It’s the unsettling feeling that the human part of being human is eroding.  We’re seeing it everywhere today.  As AI systems become more autonomous and decisions are being made with little to no human oversight, you have to wonder if we’re still in the driver’s seat.  Some examples of why this can cause anxiety:

• “Black Box” Issues – It’s fascinating to see the results of these advanced AI models but ever wonder how they arrived at those results?  And consider in the future, if AI decides who gets a job interview or a bank loan and nobody really understands the rationale, how much control do we truly have over these things?
• Autonomous Decision Making – AI is making decisions in many high stakes environments like trading on Wall Street or diagnosing diseases.  But the thought of complex systems making critical choices with no human involvement is downright unsettling.  Even today, we deal with “hallucinations” where AI models “fill in the gaps” leading to false conclusions.  Yikes!

There is always a concern about using new tools for evil.  That will never go away.  What makes people anxious about AI is the capacity to operate in ways we don’t fully understand or can’t predict,  which may lead to outcomes outside of human intentions or that completely override human values.  There are plenty of positive things to ponder about AI but it’s hard not to be afraid of the possibility that we might be building a future where the most impactful decisions are made by non-humans.

What next?

These three fears, the unknown, the speed, and the loss of control, are valid concerns.  They are part of the complex and sometimes terrifying journey we’re on with AI.  Acknowledging these isn’t about shutting down progress but more about providing more thought and discussion around AI’s development and integration into all parts of our lives.  We may never fully understand where all of this is going but continuing conversations every step of the way is the best way to go about it.

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