What happens when AI becomes better than human beings? How about the scenario where content created by artificial intelligence becomes indistinguishable from reality?
The above is happening in real time, right before our eyes. It’s going to have profound implications for humanity, affecting various facets of life, from the way we work to how we perceive our existence.
In this episode of the web3, AI, and metaverse legal and business podcast, I’m going to cover the major implications, along with a few specific suggestions and ideas to deal with this new reality.
My name is Mitch Jackson and to give you a bit of context about this show, I’m a lawyer and private mediator with over 30 years of experience, many of which include representing clients and litigating cases in different technology sectors. In each podcast episode, I help you navigate the new and sometimes confusing dynamic digital landscape found at the intersection of law, business, and technology.
OK, let’s dive into this new episode!
When looking at the implications of AI being better than humans at doing most, if not all things, several positive perspectives of this happening revolve around enhanced problem-solving, personalization and convenience, and economic growth.
With enhanced problem-solving, meaning AI is capable of mimicking human intelligence, we will tackle complex problems better, faster, and more efficiently, leading to advancements in medicine, environmental management, and scientific research.
When it comes to personalization and convenience, expect AI to provide highly personalized and better experiences, from education to healthcare, by understanding individual human needs and preferences at an unprecedented level.
The integration of advanced AI in industries will spur economic growth by optimizing production, reducing waste, and creating new markets for technology-driven services.
At the same time, several negative perspectives that come to mind while this is all happening include:
Job Displacement – As AI performs more tasks traditionally done by humans, there will be significant job displacement, leading to economic and social challenges.
Loss of Human Skills – Reliance on AI for everyday tasks will result in the atrophy of certain human skills, such as critical thinking or decision-making.
Ethical and Moral Dilemmas – When AI emulates human behavior, it will raise questions about rights and treatment of AI entities, as well as the ethics of their use in situations like war or surveillance.
And last but not least, Identity and Reality Crisis – Individuals will struggle with issues of identity and reality, as the lines between AI and human interactions become blurred.
I believe these perspectives only scratch the surface of how AI could impact humanity, in both good and bad ways, but they do highlight the breadth of considerations we’d have to explore.
So, with all of that in mind, and taking into consideration the dangers of misinformation, fake news, and deepfakes, here are a few things I believe we need to focus on moving forward which require a multifaceted approach:
Regulation and Legislation – Governments should create and enforce regulations to prevent the malicious use of AI. This includes laws around the creation and distribution of deepfakes and the requirement to disclose when AI is used to create or distribute content.
Verification Technologies – Development of robust verification systems that can detect AI-generated content with high accuracy is essential. Blockchain technology, for example, could be used to verify the authenticity of digital media.
Media Literacy Education – Educating the public about the existence and capabilities of AI-generated content is crucial. People need to be critical consumers of information and understand how to verify sources and check facts.
AI Ethics Frameworks – Establishing international ethics frameworks for the development and use of AI can help ensure that AI is used responsibly and for the benefit of society.
Transparency and Disclosure – Companies and creators should be transparent when using AI to create or modify content, especially in sensitive areas like news, politics, and education.
Collaboration – Stakeholders from the private sector, government, academia, and civil society need to collaborate to address the challenges posed by AI. This includes sharing best practices and technologies for detecting and combating fake news and misinformation.
Human Oversight – Systems should be in place to ensure that there is human oversight of AI, preventing autonomous decision-making without human intervention, particularly in critical areas like finance, healthcare, and law enforcement.
Each of these strategies plays a role in creating a societal infrastructure capable of harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks, particularly those associated with misinformation and the manipulation of facts and opinions.
Now that we know what needs to be done, how do we do this? How do we get people to cooperate? How do we get different governments and countries around the world to work together and take action?
My thoughts are as follows:
Achieving global cooperation on AI governance is complex, given varying political, economic, and social interests. However, there are strategies to encourage collaboration and alignment.
Global Forums and Alliances – Establish international forums where policymakers, tech leaders, and other stakeholders can discuss AI’s impact. These forums can lead to the development of shared principles
The Web3, AI and Metaverse Legal and Business Podcast
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