Can We Maintain Control: A Technological Coming of Age
The seeds of technology are about to be harvested
In a 1961 interview with the BBC, novelist, Aldous Huxley stated that man is being subjected to his own inventions and is now the victim of his own technology. He goes on to state that once the seeds of technology have been planted they will continue to grow, and that growth is according to its own being. But the laws of its being are not necessarily the laws of our being.
In the ever-expanding landscape of technology, it's becoming increasingly evident that our creations are gaining unprecedented power and autonomy. From artificial intelligence that can generate remarkably human-like text to autonomous delivery vehicles that can navigate complex urban environments. These recent advancements have brought us to a pivotal point in our history. Now the question that we have to ask is: Will we lose control of technology?
Long ago AI was a concept that only existed in science fiction, but in recent years has made skyrocketing advancements. Algorithmic machine learning has reached levels of competence that we had previously only dreamed of. These advancements offer unrealized potential in the area of language processing, medical diagnosis, and data analytics, but they also raise concerns regarding the social and ethical implications of handing over control to our technology.
I believe that one day we will reach a point in technological advancement where we will begin to trust the judgment and decision-making skills of AI over our own. When this day comes there may be decisions made that we don’t fully understand or just don’t agree with.
Companies like Tesla, Uber, and Waymo have invested heavily in the automation of passenger vehicles, especially in the realm of self-driving cars. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize transportation by reducing accidents, optimizing traffic flow, and increasing accessibility.
The increased autonomy of machines has introduced some complex questions regarding accountability and responsibility. When machines become autonomous who will be taking responsibility for the actions of AI?
As it stands right now, autonomous machines are owned by separate or private entities therefore, any “decisions” that are made by AI would then be the responsibility of its owner to be accountable to whomever the decision has impacted.
To say that AI has to be held responsible and accountable for its actions would be to say that AI has become truly conscious, as only a sentient being could be held one hundred percent accountable for its behavior.
Regarding the ethics that surround our current and future technology, biometrics is one area of concern. After all, biometric systems can offer a whole host of benefits such as added security and convivence.
For example, Amazon One is a payment system that is based on biometrics and works by connecting your banking information to you by reading the users’ palmprint. Amazon is touting this system as a fast, free identity service that allows you to enter, identify, and pay using only your palm. This system is quicker and easier for both the customer and retailer, rather than using cash, card, or god forbid the old-school check, you just scan your palm.
Amazon One does have its advantages, for example, your palms are unique to you, and no two are alike. This system can provide a truly contactless experience at the grocery store. Some concerns have been raised in questioning the safety of Amazon One when it comes to the cloud storage of its users’ biometric data.
AI’s advancements in deep learning have birthed the creation of deepfakes. These fake videos and images are a world away from the poorly photoshopped images of the late 1990s and early 2000s. These hyper-realistic images and videos can convincingly depict people saying and doing things that never really happened, that’s a scary thought.
Deepfakes can be useful for entertainment purposes but have the potential to be used maliciously such as spreading misinformation, discrediting individuals, or even inciting political unrest. Deepfakes have the potential to ruin someone’s career or lead to false incrimination and subsequent incarceration.
There is a real challenge here and that is to be able to maintain control over the authenticity of visual and auditory information, in an era where even rock-solid evidence can be manipulated. Stricter content authentication measures and the development of counter-technology are essential to ensure that technology doesn't become a tool for manipulation and deception.
As of now, we have a symbiotic and complementary relationship with technology, and as long as it stays that way I am ok. With the rapid advancements that are taking place in technology are we going to be able to guarantee this beneficial relationship in the future? This will require designing technologies that augment human decision-making rather than replace it.
The trajectory of technology's impact on our lives is still within our control but the time to act is now. By prioritizing ethics, accountability, transparency, and education, we can harness the power of technology while maintaining our grip on its outcomes.
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Good piece, Brian. This is THE issue of our generation, I think, and we need to face it head-on.
Talking about it and getting others to do the same is the best thing we can do right now.
I hope we get this right, but somehow greed always seems to prevail when it comes to doing the right thing for humanity sake.