Human Intelligence is an elusive quality; hence, we are the only intelligent beings in the Universe, until now! However, there’s one intelligence threatening to replace us, if not now but three years later. This is what Elon Musk predicted in an interview with the New York Times. His concern stemmed from the nature of the Artificial Intelligence, DeepMind, currently developed by Google.
Do we share his fear –
YES,
NO,
MAYBE?
However, the question of whether AI will replace human intelligence or not remains largely debatable. So, let’s weigh the arguments in favor or against one by one.
Artificial Intelligence Vs. Human Intelligence
Even before the term Artificial Intelligence became a household terminology, it reached the mainstream audience courtesy of Hollywood Science Fictions. But unfortunately, the filmmakers focused on giving AI the twisted shape of a most feared antagonist. And maybe the fear of AI replacing humans lingered in the subconscious minds of humans.
When scientists, physicists like Stephen Hawking, and Industry stalwarts like Elon Musk voiced their opinions against our increasing dependency on AI and Automation, fear became a shared opinion.
But, is there any truth behind such statements. Let’s explore the arguments extensively.
Arguments in Favour of the Statement: AI replacing Human Intelligence
If we consider the various applications of Artificial Intelligence, we might agree with the above statement. The reasons are that new-age technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Automation are increasingly applied to various use cases to assist humans in performing their tasks better.
They are designed to make our lives better, not replace us altogether. But unfortunately, too much dependency on them means letting go of human resources eventually. For one reason, implementing such technology is cost-effective in the long run, if not initially. Earlier companies had to shell millions of dollars as an initial investment. Now, they can very well redirect the recurring annual cost of maintaining two or more human employees in the same task.
Experts have estimated that 375 million jobs are at risk of becoming obsolete or non-existent, courtesy of new-age technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence. Hence, a billion people worldwide can lose their jobs over the next ten years or so.
Here is a list of jobs that AI has already taken over –
- Customer Service – The chatbots are unique examples of AI technology benefitting companies handling bulk customer inquiries.
- Bookkeeping and Data Entry – Not yet optimised, but this is one area where AI can make a difference.
- Receptionists – A hotel in Japan has AI robots in the shape of T-Rex working as receptionists and other hotel attendants.
- Content Generation- Jasper, for instance, is powered by AI and ML technologies to produce content that is both persuasive and enticing automatically. Then, other tools like Grammarly, Wordsmith, WordAI, Article Forge, and others work as content assistants improving content or spinning high-quality pieces in 60 seconds. Further, AI is used to remove junk content from the web.
- Courier and Delivery Services – Artificial intelligence applications are already streamlining the logistics and supply chain network. Flipkart and Amazon, for instance, are using AI drones to speed-up delivery.
- Doctors and Medical Personnel – AI robots performing necessary surgeries are no more a breaking news headline. This technology has the power to make adequate diagnoses and treatment minus human error.
- Soldiers – AI has penetrated our defense system, with more focus on surveillance and intelligence presently. Sooner or later, human soldiers will be replaced by AI robots as the most lethal human-like war weapons that can cost enemy lives without losing one on their side.
- Market Research Analysts – AI and automation are better equipped to extract granular data from scattered documents and share insights minus any human error or bias judgment. That, too, is in real-time!
- Manufacturing – AI and automation have already penetrated this sector in some form or the other. Needless to say, there is enough scope for technology-enabled disruption in the manufacturing industry where semi-skilled human labours might seem more like expenditures in the coming days.
- Drivers and Security Guards – We are not far away from riding fully automated, AI-powered driverless vehicles in the coming days. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence has made substantial advancements in physical security. Yelp’s security robot is one such example where the AI robot is tasked to inspect a building with its high-definition camera. It is equipped with a directional mic and infrared sensor to detect suspicious activity.
Unarguably, the points in favor of the statement, ‘AI replacing Humans’ are strong. But the arguments against it are stronger. Let’s elucidate.
Also Read: AI Oops Moments and Hilarious Facts to Show Human-in-the-Loop is Much Needed
Arguments Against the Statement: AI replacing Human Intelligence
When news like a Venture Capital Firm appointing an Algorithm named VITAL to its board appear, we are driven by the nightmare of Artificial Intelligence replacing humans sooner than we predicted. But if we think logically, we will realise there’s no reason to worry about it.
An Artificially Intelligent Machine can never replace Human Intelligence for multiple reasons. Yes, one can argue by referring to NLPs and other advancements made in the same field, enabling computers to imitate humans as much as possible, even replicating emotions, reasoning, and developing consciousness. But a machine can never really outdo humans completely.
One of the strong points in favor is that we humans are the creators. So, unless we program an artificially intelligent brain to do something, it won’t be able to deviate much from its original code. Yes, such AI bots have exhibited self-improving powers, but even that can be restricted to a few applications or so.
The second reason could be humans are inherently emotional and are naturally endowed with qualities such as empathy, imagination, creativity, intuition, judgment, adjustment, and consideration. Researchers are experimenting with different ways by which AI can emulate human emotions or at least recognise emotions while addressing customer queries.
But the former has one significant disability: Artificial Intelligence relies solely on data and how data is connected to specific events. That doesn’t include a unique code to teach them the concept of cause and effect or the art of reasoning.
In short, an Artificially Intelligent system can never exist without the help of Human Intelligence, even though it can perform in the absence of the latter.
Human Artificial Intelligence – A Complicated Relationship Debrief
Irrespective of what experts say about AI replacing humans, this statement will never see the light of the day, at least in our lifetime or later. The future is going to reveal the rise of human artificial intelligence.
What is Human Artificial Intelligence?
Even though companies are steering towards a human zero approach, experts warn about possible dangers lurking behind the same concept. When AI is left entirely on its own, it can make awful decisions. One of the examples being, AI in charge of accepting or rejecting student applications to a college in the US, ended up rejecting a bright student. One of its codes stated that students from this postal code wouldn’t succeed at college.
More importantly, machines powered by Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence can make new rules but only based on historical data as fed into its database. Hence, businesses need to keep humans in the loop and not outside it to arrest such basic yet costly errors.
Since we humans are eventually the creators, only human intelligence can truly actualize the full potential of artificial intelligence. And to contradict another statement of AI replacing humans in most current jobs, the former is also creating many more for the latter.
Therefore, we can conclude on this realization that artificial intelligence is not a replacement for human intelligence; instead, it is the beginning of a new human artificial intelligence. This is an initiative supported by Opporture. It has helped many organizations successfully eradicate the mistakes human intelligence makes while taking full advantage of the benefits of Artificial Intelligence.
