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Computer says no

How today is ruled by Artificial Intelligence

Sep. 11, 2022 -

This morning I enjoyed my bike ride on a nearly empty bicycle lane, picture perfect rays of sunlight illuminated the dew above the fields around me. Where were all the other cyclists? I suspect it has something to do with popular weather apps. It strikes me how great the control of computers on people's lives already is.

Apparently, there was a chance of rain this morning, as indicated by the iPhone's weather app. Although I did not encounter any drop of rain, that tiny rain cloud icon on the phone made fewer people go out for a ride.

Sure, I get it: few folks like to get wet on their fancy bikes. But what happened with actually looking out of the window to check out the actual weather? A quick glance would have shown anyone the perfect conditions for a ride. Do you make decisions based on the weather app?

Weather Stone - more accurate than your favourite app (image credit Wikipedia)
Weather Stone - more accurate than your favourite app (image credit Wikipedia)

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Despite its recent renaissance in the ranks of "buzzword bingo", concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning are not all that novel. The idea of using learning as a means of bootstrapping a simpler system to human-level intelligence can be traced back at least to Alan Turing's notion of a "child machine" in 1950. Instead of trying to produce a programme to simulate the adult mind, why not rather try to produce one which simulates the child's? If it were then subject to an appropriate course of education, one would obtain the adult brain.

A photo of humanoid robot children going to school
A photo of humanoid robot children going to school

In his book "Superintelligence", Nick Bostrom thoroughly explores the possible paths towards the creation of an artificial intelligence. What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Even Elon Musk agrees with me that everybody should read this book.

Although the general consensus is that a true artificial general intelligence does not exist yet, I would argue that society in general is lining up perfectly for an AI to take control. The boiling frog metaphor is a powerful way to think about this, where the frog does not perceive the danger of water brought to a boil slowly. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be cooked by anybody, lest alone an AI!

A photo of humanoid robots boiling water in a large pan on a white background
A photo of humanoid robots boiling water in a large pan on a white background

Examples of today's computer control

While enjoying the empty bike lane this morning, it occurred to me that the weather app is not alone in controlling people's behaviour. Consider the following examples:

A crazy news editor with a type writer reading a news paper on fire
A crazy news editor with a type writer reading a news paper on fire

Conclusion

New technology always scares people. When the first bicycles appeared, people blamed almost anything on them! Yet, they are now integrated in our lives in a reasonable good way. People know the risks and many act accordingly. Helmets and bike lights are very common. Eventually, I expect the same for computerised decision making: we will learn to deal with it in a good way.

In the meantime we should actively remain curious and enjoy the modern wonders of technology, like the amazing DALL-E AI system that can create original, realistic images and art. I worked with it to create the artwork accompanying this blog post. The recently started discussion about who owns the generated works doesn't surprise me at all. Policy makers would be wise not to ignore the greater questions surrounding artificial intelligence!

Artwork for this blog post was created with DALL-E - the amazing AI system that generates original images
Artwork for this blog post was created with DALL-E - the amazing AI system that generates original images

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