Artificial intelligence has had a commendable journey. From Frankenstein to Sophia, the paths it has traversed have been lined with opportunities and potential. With its characteristic features of accuracy and efficiency, it leaves an impact that is amplified through the wide range of latent potential that can be tapped into in the future.
However, AI also does not escape the implications of the phrase ‘a coin has two sides.’ Likewise, artificial intelligence also adds a plus and minus sign to the equation, and sometimes there is a fear of potential imbalance, which could shake the foundations of humanity and push us to the verge of a probable existential crisis. It cannot be denied that artificial intelligence and automation have made daily tasks much easier, more efficient, and more time-effective, but at the same time, they have stripped people of their jobs. The scenario depicted by Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times was perhaps true then. But there are agreements and disagreements that line this discussion, making it hard to establish a solid ground for argument.
Automation
When dealing with a system controlled by humans, there are often problems due to language barriers, a lack of comprehension and skill, and the inevitable human tendency to make mistakes. With machines, however, all these problems are eliminated, opening up a faster redress to problems and more efficient solutions.
However, this raises a question about the probable situation wherein people lose their jobs. One assurance given is that, even if automation takes over some jobs, it will also create new opportunities and professions. However, this does not solve the anxiety and fear of unemployment that come with automation and artificial intelligence.
What if new jobs do not materialize?
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman has a solution in case new professions to compensate for the lost ones do not materialize. According to Altman, even in the absence of new jobs, people can survive with the income generated by artificial intelligence, which will pay each adult $13,500 per year. Highly idealistic and doubtfully realistic, Altman’s magnanimous view of a society thriving on income generated by machines is met with disagreement and opposition from experts who opine that Altman’s views are highly misleading and impractical. And even if this vision is realized, it will create an intellectual underclass with long-term unemployment problems. Though revolutionary in theory, this ideal is a bit too far from the concerns of reality.
In short, there is still no clarity regarding where automation will position humans in the professional hierarchy. To a large extent, this is determined by the response of organizations to this new reality that is on the rise.
Particularly with the rise of the pandemic, automation has been accelerated like never before, and experts point towards the ‘double disruption’ leading to growing disparities between workers. All these emphasize the fear regarding automation and job security. However, one has to remember that this scenario is not exclusive to artificial intelligence and automation. In the wake of any new technology that complements human efforts, there will be an inevitable loss of jobs, while at the same time, new opportunities will be created to compensate for the same. That’s how the wheel of progress has been functioning since time immemorial, and hopefully, that will be the case with automation and AI, maintaining a balance and neither edging into a dystopia nor a utopia.
