Technology has improved drastically in the last 20 years, and it is hard to imagine life without it. From phones to calculators, it plays a key role in our lives, but is it there to improve the world, or destroy it?
AI offers many glimpses of hope for the future, none more so than its ability to save lives. It has already been used by the military to defuse bombs, allowing both soldiers and civilians to be safer in war-torn areas. It has recently been seen in the Russo-Ukrainian War, where it is being used to detect Russian equipment and missiles. The Ukrainians are also using AI to analyse data and choose targets for artillery strikes. In countries such as this, AI helps to protect territory and survey areas whilst reducing casualties and allows transport of supplies to isolated troops.
AI has been seen in the medical world, treating patients with contagious diseases (such as Covid-19), and performing delicate eye surgery. Robots possess the ability to spot things on scans that humans can’t, eliminating errors and making sure that patients get the care they need. AI in medicine is no dream of the future, and around 38% of medical providers use computers as part of a diagnosis.
Whilst artificial intelligence shows the potential to greatly help humankind and to be a force for good, it also has the capacity to be one of the most terrifying concepts out there as there are still so many unknowns. In a 2017 speech, Vladimir Putin stated:
“Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia, but for all humankind. It comes with enormous opportunities but also threats that are difficult to predict. Whoever becomes leader in this sphere, will become the leader of the world.”
Some believe that the competition to create the most powerful form of AI will soon overtake the nuclear arms race, with countries like the USA, Russia and North Korea fighting to control the sphere of influence in the industry.
Although drones in warfare allow countries to attack targets without threatening their soldiers’ lives, it has also encouraged armies to test their technology in countries such as Syria. The USA, Turkey, Israel, Iran and Russia are the main countries involved in the drone war in Syria, as well as the Syrian military themselves, with the US alone spending $7 billion on drone research and construction in 2018. Some 50,000 drone strikes were conducted in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq over just a five-year period under Donald Trump’s leadership.
The future of AI remains uncertain but what scientists know is that it will be influenced by the decisions of humans. It could develop the greed and violence shown in our society but could equally inherit our kindness and compassion. As long as we program technology to benefit others, and continue to reflect these positive values, AI can be something to celebrate.
