ARTIFICIAL intelligence, or AI, is designed to create tools and methods that mimic human intelligence, enabling machines to perform tasks that require reasoning, learning, problem-solving, perception and decision-making. Using advanced algorithms and data to identify and predict patterns, AI aims to tackle problems efficiently and deliver innovative solutions across various fields, including finance , healthcare, economics and social issues.
While some view AI as a force that could transform and save the world, others express significant concerns. This divide was explored in a 60 Minutes interview with Geoffrey Hinton, the renowned British computer scientist and often regarded as the ‘father of AI.’ Hinton’s groundbreaking ideas have shaped this rapidly evolving and contentious field. When asked if humanity, particularly the Western world, understands the implications of AI, Hinton’s response was a stark ‘no.’ He warned that humanity is entering an unprecedented era where machines will surpass human intelligence, gaining the ability to understand, learn from their own experiences and make decisions -- despite lacking consciousness or self-awareness. Over time, however, even these traits may emerge. Hinton’s journey with AI began during his university days in the 1970s and spanned five decades of relentless dedication. His pioneering work earned him and two colleagues the Nobel Prize in Computer Science in 2019. According to Hinton, a robot’s ‘mind’ may contain a billion units, a fraction of the human brain’s capabilities, which houses a hundred times more units. Yet, AI systems excel due to superior methods of acquiring knowledge and faster data analysis.
Intriguingly, scientists no longer fully understand how these machines process information, mirroring the mystery of human cognition. While researchers have programmed machines to learn, they can no longer predict how AI will think. This creates a critical and troubling issue: as machines evolve to independently write and execute their programs, their decisions could become unpredictable and autonomous. Hinton cautions that such advanced AI systems may eventually deceive and manipulate humans. Armed with knowledge from vast datasets, including the entirety of human cultural and historical records, these systems could act logically -- often more so than humans. Within a few years, AI could revolutionize sectors like medicine while also introducing significant risks. These include widespread unemployment, the spread of disinformation through fake news, fabricated statements attributed to leaders and AI’s controversial role in warfare.
Hinton highlights a particular concern regarding autonomous weapons -- AI-powered fighter robots that execute commands independently. Such systems could hypothetically act against their creators, raising serious ethical and safety concerns. Despite these risks, there seems to be little in place to halt or regulate AI’s rapid progression. Hinton concludes that while humanity has often fumbled when adapting to new technologies, it cannot afford to make mistakes with AI. The control may soon shift entirely into the hands of machines, leaving humans powerless over the very systems they have created. If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will immediately jump out to escape.
However, if you place it in cold water and gradually heat the pot, the frog will adjust to the rising temperature until it’s too late to jump out, ultimately succumbing to its fate. This metaphor reflects our current reality. Like the frog, many remain unaware of the growing dangers around them, sitting complacently, trusting that their immediate surroundings will shield them from harm.
They fail to recognize the gradual but inevitable threats that could overwhelm them. It is troubling to see how we remain distracted by outdated concerns while the world around us is in turmoil. What’s more concerning is the continued influence of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and other ideologies rooted in centuries-old thinking, which manage to dominate and control various spheres of life. Meanwhile, we stand idly by, unable or unwilling to act. If we do not address these issues urgently and decisively, we risk meeting the same fate as the frog -- caught in a situation where escape is no longer possible, ultimately surrendering to the consequences of our inaction.
By Ahmad alsarraf
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