Debate Of the Week: Will Artificial Intelligence destroy us?

Will AI eventually destroy us? The Moscow Open descended into chaos when a robot attacked a child. Is this the start of the AI takeover? Or will humans remain firmly in charge? Video footage shows a robotic arm suddenly lunging at the boy and grabbing his hand. Four adults had to rescue him from its grasp. It has some wondering if we are introducing robots into our everyday lives too quickly, before we have had time to ensure that they are completely safe. Even the simplest machines are far more lethal than we tend to think. Around two people die in the USA every year from being crushed under a vending machine. That makes vending machines around six times deadlier than sharks. Yet we are introducing more and more complex machines into our lives, sometimes without very comprehensive safety checks. For example, we have been quick to embrace self-driving cars. Yet last month, it was revealed that Tesla self-driving cars had been involved in 273 crashes reported since 2021. Some fear intelligent robots could be used by authoritarian governments to crush riots. Recently, the internet was left disturbed by a video showing a small, dog-like robot operating a submachine gun with deadly accuracy. Human soldiers cannot be relied upon to follow unethical orders; they might simply refuse to fire upon their fellow citizens. Robots have no such qualms. AI could destroy us in alliance with repressive states. But others think it is not really the robots that are to blame. In almost every case in which robots have caused deaths or injuries, human error has been responsible. Will AI eventually destroy us? Yes The number of injuries caused by machines is rising, and yet we are incorporating more of these machines into our lives. One day, AI will be able to override our commands not to hurt us. No If the future of humanity is in great peril, then it is from human activity, not from intelligent machines. Robots are improving our lives – and we can program them not to destroy us. Or... AI is probably not going to overthrow human rule. But powerful, unscrupulous human beings could certainly use AI to overthrow democracy and introduce repressive forms of government. WORD WATCH Tesla The electric vehicle manufacturing company has also been at the forefront of self-driving technology, but it has been criticised both for perceived weaknesses in the cars’ performance, and for its treatment of its workforce. Authoritarian A kind of government that stresses obedience to authority over personal freedom. Submachine gun A kind of automatic weapon that takes its name from the fact that it is less powerful than a machine gun, but can be handheld. Qualms A qualm is a worry or a concern. Unscrupulous Lacking moral qualms or sensibilities. DEBATE OF THE DAY Will AI eventually destroy us? The Moscow Open descended into chaos when a robot attacked a child. Is this the start of the AI takeover? Or will humans remain firmly in charge? Video footage shows a robotic arm suddenly lunging at the boy and grabbing his hand. Four adults had to rescue him from its grasp. It has some wondering if we are introducing robots into our everyday lives too quickly, before we have had time to ensure that they are completely safe. Even the simplest machines are far more lethal than we tend to think. Around two people die in the USA every year from being crushed under a vending machine. That makes vending machines around six times deadlier than sharks. Yet we are introducing more and more complex machines into our lives, sometimes without very comprehensive safety checks. For example, we have been quick to embrace self-driving cars. Yet last month, it was revealed that Tesla self-driving cars had been involved in 273 crashes reported since 2021. Some fear intelligent robots could be used by authoritarian governments to crush riots. Recently, the internet was left disturbed by a video showing a small, dog-like robot operating a submachine gun with deadly accuracy. Human soldiers cannot be relied upon to follow unethical orders; they might simply refuse to fire upon their fellow citizens. Robots have no such qualms. AI could destroy us in alliance with repressive states. But others think it is not really the robots that are to blame. In almost every case in which robots have caused deaths or injuries, human error has been responsible. Will AI eventually destroy us? Yes The number of injuries caused by machines is rising, and yet we are incorporating more of these machines into our lives. One day, AI will be able to override our commands not to hurt us. No If the future of humanity is in great peril, then it is from human activity, not from intelligent machines. Robots are improving our lives – and we can program them not to destroy us. Or... AI is probably not going to overthrow human rule. But powerful, unscrupulous human beings could certainly use AI to overthrow democracy and introduce repressive forms of government. WORD WATCH Tesla The electric vehicle manufacturing company has also been at the forefront of self-driving technology, but it has been criticised both for perceived weaknesses in the cars’ performance, and for its treatment of its workforce. Authoritarian A kind of government that stresses obedience to authority over personal freedom. Submachine gun A kind of automatic weapon that takes its name from the fact that it is less powerful than a machine gun, but can be handheld. Qualms A qualm is a worry or a concern. Unscrupulous Lacking moral qualms or sensibilities.