Opinion: Artificial intelligence will reshape humanity, business

Perhaps the best way to write an article on artificial intelligence is to have an algorithm write it for me. I told ChatGPT to write me a paragraph about AI. This is what it returned within two seconds:

“Artificial intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. It encompasses a wide range of technologies and approaches, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision and robotics. AI systems are designed to analyze and interpret vast amounts of data, learn from patterns, make predictions, and automate complex processes. AI has the potential to revolutionize various industries and improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making. From healthcare and transportation to finance and entertainment, AI is already making significant advancements and contributing to innovations. However, as AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to address ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and ensure transparency and accountability in its development and deployment to ensure it benefits society as a whole.”

ChatGPT, or Chatbot Generative Pre-trained Transformer, created by OpenAI, was founded in part by Elon Musk. Musk stepped back in 2018 and has now become a critic of the company for not implementing sufficient safety standards.

The web-based program is a chat box that mimics human dialogue between you and the machine. Type a question, make a command or engage in conversation, and a detailed response is generated within seconds.

The program uses unsupervised learning, which is an AI language that learns to identify structures, patterns or relationships within data on its own to produce a response in a language that humans can understand. However, there is a risk of spreading false and biased information, which could be dangerous if left unchecked.

In fact, OpenAI warns on the home page that ChatGPT may occasionally generate inaccurate information, occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content and have limited knowledge of world events after 2021. The technology is still in its research phase, which is why free accounts are available to the public.

When I asked ChatGPT about the risks associated with AI, it replied that advances in this technology could have ethical implications related to discrimination in hiring, lending and the criminal justice system. AI also threatens to displace jobs and will create a need to retrain and reskill workers in the new workplace. Fields such as manufacturing, transportation and customer service will likely be the areas most impacted.

However, the risks don’t stop there. Digital minds superior to human intelligence could pose a risk to humanity. A section on OpenAI’s blog states, “A misaligned superintelligent (artificial general intelligence) could cause grievous harm to the world; an autocratic regime with a decisive superintelligence lead could do that, too.”

Isn’t it interesting how this risk was not on the list provided to me by ChatGPT? Did the algorithm decide on its own to not mention it?

Musk and Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak, among other technology leaders, have expressed concerns over AI surpassing human intelligence. In a letter dated March 22, 2023, titled “Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter,” the tech signatories state concerns of advancing technology beyond GPT-4, citing a lack of management in creating digital minds that not even their creators can understand, predict or control. The letter calls for a six-month pause, or an “AI Summer,” to allow AI labs and researchers to coordinate safety protocols.

Setting aside the risk for human extinction, the benefits of a world with controlled superintelligence will catapult humanity and business into advanced stages that are hard to visualize at present. Solving large problems with complex data at lightning speed and delegating cognitive tasks will be a force multiplier for our evolution.

All commercial industries could benefit from the power of AI. Think of the rapid advancements in health care diagnostics and therapeutics, robotics, automation and even analysis of detailed financial statements rendered in seconds. There is no industry that will be untouched by AI in the coming years. It will change industries and reshape our existence, hopefully for the better.

Will the machines take over the world? Given the competitive race to control this technology, coupled with the advancements already in place, perhaps they already have.

Andy Drennen is a certified financial planner and senior portfolio manager at Simmons Private Wealth in Springfield. He can be reached at andy.drennen@simmonsbank.com.