For better future, AI experts, policymakers, Researchers, and society as a whole have to carefully consider the potential impacts of AI and work to ensure that its development and operationalization observe ethical principles and benefit humanity

1. Is AI a danger to
humanity?
Nav Raj Pandey
Kathmandu: It has been almost four decades since American science-fiction
movie ‘The Terminator’ was first released in 1984. The film portrays the
artificial intelligence (AI) and cyborg as enemies of humanity.
The subsequent movie series are also more or less centered around the same
theme. Though the work of science fiction, such films dash on some very real
apprehensions about the potential threats of revolutionary AI. For, the world
has seen many advancements in the field of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and
robotics since then, turning some of sci-fi fantasies into reality.
Lately, some people have started the debate on the possible danger AI may
pose to human existence. Undoubtedly, AI could negatively change the world
in several ways like job displacement, biasness, automated weapon
activation, etc.

2. Will AI be as dangerous to human existence as portrayed in science-fictions?
If the answer is yes, the message for future is clear: Human beings will have
no control over their fate and they will be at the mercy of IA.
Computer Scientist Alan Turing developed the concept of Universal Machine
which could perform any activities of human being. From 1940s, this very
mapping became the seedling of AI. As a result, we have now very sure and
predictable AI tools.
During period of 1950s- 2000s researcher and scientist work on machine
learning concept, natural Language processing and robotics. The process was
slow as computer scientists were busy in exploring the areas of Computing.
In the course of technological advancement, big data, advanced devices,
increased computing speed and accuracy have led to rapid development of
AI.
Real interest of scientists and researchers came from different perception
toward natural language processing, machine learning and robotics machines.
Initially AI was developed and set up for problem solving in field like health
care, finance and transportation.
For a long time, there have been debates on AI and its potential risk to human
existences. Notable tensions arose in mid 2010s as AI’s negative impact on
society felt across the globe such as job displacement, unfairness and
refinement and possible use of AI for harmful purposes.
In 2015, a group of leading AI researchers and scientists including Stephen
Hawking and Elon Musk signed an open letter to research and work on
challenges and potential threat of AI to human life.
The scenario completely changed in 2020. Open AI, a research organization,
launched its chatbot ChatGpt-3 architecture, which is currently the largest
and most popular AI tool that can process natural language. With this, Topics
like super intelligence have become the main theme for powerful debate.
Still now, there is opposing and supporting debate and concerns in relation to
the use of AI. Some people argue that if it is applied in autonomous weapon

3. systems, global security and stability will be threatened. For other, the
application of AI in health sector for heartbeat and cancer detection is
remarkable.
Whether or not AI will put an end to human existence in the future, there is
no need to worry about at the moment, though. And we are grateful that AI
has eased our lives doing some of the most complicated works. In this sense,
AI is not a replacement of human beings but a complementary tool to solve
complex problems that seem impossible to be solved by our brains. The latest
Chat-GPT can serve as an example.
After successful integration of AI tool, Chat –GPT, into computing world, the
world is taken by storm. It has also divided people into two camps. One camp
holds that AI tools make human life easier. While the other camp assumes
that AI is extremely unsafe, and more hazardous for human existence than
bio and nuclear weapons.
Though we’re less likely to see robotic revolts as displayed in the science-
fiction movies like ‘The Terminator’, we must be aware of the fact that it can
be misused or lead to unintended consequences.
For better future, AI experts, policymakers, Researchers, and society as a
whole have to carefully consider the potential impacts of AI and work to
ensure that its development and operationalization observe ethical principles
and benefit humanity.