Artificial Intelligence refers to the process by which certain machines are able to demonstrate the capacity to learn from their environments and make decisions based on a variety of factors to achieve goals, in much the same way humans do. In the short video attachment you can learn about the Turing test, which is used to determine whether a machine can be defined as intelligent or not.
Technological advances mean that we are increasingly developing machines that have this capability and AI is beginning to permeate every aspect of life in many different ways. Matthew Ledvina has read extensively on the topic of AI, with particular focus on how AI could potentially replace many white-collar workers in the near future. AI becomes more and more prominent, some are calling for implementation of what they call the Shared Benefit Principle.
The Shared Benefit Principle
The Shared Benefit Principle is part of the 23 Asilomar AI Principles. These principles were developed to act as a guideline for continued research into and production of artificial intelligence, with a focus on creating opportunities to empower and help as many people as possible in the years and decades to come.
The Shared Benefit Principle revolves around the idea that AI should be developed in such a way as to provide benefits to as many people as possible, rather than just the creators or those that can afford to buy it.
Artificial intelligence has the capability to create great advances in fields such as medicine, which proponents of the principle believe should be available to all people. In the PDF attachment you can see some of the ways in which many of us already find ourselves interacting with intelligent machines in the course of our day.
The Shared Benefit Principle for Artificial Intelligence
Surprising Everyday Uses of Artificial Intelligence
The huge disparity in income between the world's richest and poorest people is cited by supporters of the Principle as a fundamental reason why we need a cultural shift when it comes to AI. As things stand, the eight richest individuals on the planet have a combined wealth equal to that of 3.6 billion individuals who make up the poorest half of the world. Without proper preparation for AI, supporters argue that huge levels of inequality will only get wider.
Income Inequality
AI could potentially be used to address some of the inequalities that currently exist throughout society. Proper implementation and access to AI technologies could create opportunities for people who currently have limited access to education, employment and other resources.
Technology for Everyone
Historically, our approach to new technologies has been that those who design them retain ownership and are therefore able to control who they benefit and how they are distributed. This means that the creators can choose who they wish to hold the advantage, while many clearly like to opt to benefit those who can pay well for the privilege. Advanced artificial intelligence, however, has the potential to be so powerful that many argue this approach will no longer work.
The challenge would come with how to implement the Shared Benefit Principle as a policy, with concerns over utilitarianism and consequentialism needing to be addressed.
White-Collar Jobs Replaced by AI
Another focus during concern for many in terms of AI in recent years has been the replacement of white-collar jobs by machines. Internet retail giant Amazon is a prime example. Automation was introduced in the warehouses many years ago, but robots are taking the place of individuals who previously commanded salaries in the six-figure bracket.
Software can be accurately predicted to become more advanced and how much they are reasonably able to pay for it is likely to be a major consideration. The infographic attachment explores more uses of AI in business.