Big Thoughts of AI

Is AI really dangerous? Is AI a bubble?

The world-renowned companies like Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW compete in creating Formula 1 cars, which are considered the epitome of advanced technology. These companies also produce various automobiles, serving as vital means of transportation connecting various aspects of our daily lives.

The competition in AI is akin to this scenario. Performance records of artificial intelligence in diverse fields are annually renewed competitively, and the stock prices fluctuate with the race to demonstrate cutting-edge AI prowess. So, what is the essence of AI in our daily lives? It lies in internet services. Essentially, AI is utilized to enhance the quality and price competitiveness of internet services.

The development of such advanced technology fundamentally aids our daily lives, yet it also comes with side effects. 

However, where does the notion of danger to humanity stem from? I think Jeffrey Hinton's concern about artificial intelligence resembles the context articulated by Cathy O'Neil, author of "Weapons of Math Destruction." It expresses apprehensions about a society prone to violence due to the rise of the Gini coefficient.

There is a concept called Robert Solow's Productivity Paradox, which suggests that despite advancements in internet technology, productivity may not proportionally increase or may even decrease. Similarly, AI might exhibit a similar pattern. While productivity may dramatically improve from the perspective of individual companies, it may not significantly differ on a national or global scale.

Is AI truly dangerous? In fact, this statement is flawed. Fundamentally, humans pose more danger than AI. 

The benefits of artificial intelligence are currently being reaped primarily by the semiconductor industry. Whether this constitutes a bubble depends on whether the end-users, i.e., the companies utilizing these technologies, see profits and performance improvement. If only the *big tech companies are racing ahead*, I'm sure that it's likely to deflate soon. And it leads to income polarization. This is where it's dangerous.

BTW, look at the services you mainly use: Google, Youtube, Facebook, Tiktok, and Amazon. There are no drastic advances that significantly change our daily lives. These are things that are already in use (I think).

So, what should we do in era of AI? What should we have to prepare what?

-- Edward J. Yoon

a computer scientist, ex-Member of Apache Software Foundation, digital nomad.