Some of the world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI)
researchers are calling for a pause on research into AI,
claiming that safety issues must first be urgently addressed.
If not, the outcomes could be devastating for humanity.
Others say any pause in development would not only be
impractical to enforce on a global scale, but could also stand
in the way of advances that could both improve and save
lives.
The AI that is currently available already has the power
to radically alter society, in new ways that we are seeing
every day. So how might it progress over the coming years?
Are we on the brink of an artificial intelligence-powered
utopia or dystopia?
Firstly, technology has been automating jobs since the
Industrial Revolution, though never before has it happened
on this scale. Everyone from truck drivers to voice over artists
are at risk of being replaced by AI. A recent study found that
just over 30 jobs are considered safe from automation in the
near future. They range from mechanics to athletes, though
they represent just a sliver of the current labour market.
While new jobs will be created, there is a significant chance
that the majority of the population will be left jobless. This
could either lead to:
Utopia: A new leisure class emerges, living off a
universal basic income funded by taxes on robots and the
companies that operate them.
Dystopia: Mass unemployment results in social unrest,
similar to the way laid off factory workers trashed the
machines that replaced them. With so many jobs at risk and
the potential for huge wealth inequality, some fear it could
ultimately result in societal collapse.
Secondly, artificial intelligence is already contributing
to major scientific advances, dramatically accelerating
the time it takes to make discoveries. It has been used to
invent millions of materials that did not previously exist, find
potential drug molecules 1,000 times faster than previous
methods, and improve our understanding of the universe.
This could either lead to:
Utopia: Cancer and all other life-threatening diseases
are cured, leading to a new age of health and prosperity.
Scientists are already using AI tools to make breakthroughs
in longevity medicine, which aims to end or even reverse
ageing.
Dystopia: The same AI-enabled technology could
be used for malevolent purposes, creating entirely new
diseases and viruses. These could be used as bioweapons,
capable of devastating populations that don’t have access to
cures or the tech needed to develop them.
(Anthony Cuthbertson. www.independent.co.uk, 03.05.2023. Adaptado.)
O termo “while”, no trecho do terceiro parágrafo “While new
jobs will be created, there is a significant chance that the
majority of the population will be left jobless”, é empregado
com o mesmo sentido em:
