It seems that no matter where you are; in a restaurant, a bar or in the workplace, everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of you will have seen the movie ‘Afraid’[i], which imagines what could happen if you introduce AI into your home. If you examine the direction and capabilities of AI and the pathways being taken by its developers, it will seem that the creators of ‘Afraid’ were being more realistic than fantasising.
Do not be fooled that it will not affect you, it will! And it will hit our way of life a lot harder than the introduction of the Internet and the social media experiment which has consumed and changed a generation.
I do not have to tell you that AI is already replicating nearly everything we do and supported by robotics and other forms of science and technology (S&T), there are no limitations.
I have heard the discussion that AI cannot penetrate the Arts; the creative, in the pure sense. In answer to that I suggest you have a search on the internet for AI made instant songs, music composition, lyrics, vocals, all based on your request, and I also ask how is it that AI development companies are hiring freelance writers, ‘cherry-picked’ for their creative style of writing solely for the purpose of teaching AI ‘beings’ to presumably write in different styles?
The one knowledge gap of AI ‘beings’ in comparison to humans is perhaps that of emotional intelligence. Empathy, sympathy, love, compassion and so on. However, just like the human psychopath, an AI being can learn how to present as an empathetic, loving, understanding, compassionate entity; while at the same time manipulating a plan to mastermind an outcome to benefit a self-serving outcome for another entity or for itself.
I recall a few years back when our 10-year-old son was in the 5th grade and we were basically bullied by the deputy school principal to allow him to attend free ‘device’ time on Friday afternoons and bring an iPad to school, to play with like all the other kids. Our resistance was met with comments of “Get with the program, this is the way of the future.”
Now, after ten years of recognising the damage social media and internet abuse has done to our children, the Australian Government is banning the use of devices by under 16-year-olds. Sadly, however, here we are again, this time turning out tens of thousands of young people from our universities with huge debts and degrees or technical qualifications, which with the arrival of AI will be useless.
In the contemporary world of investigations, we also live in the reality and expectations of rapidly developing science and technology, with artificial intelligence now zeroing in to identify an increasing number of redundancies in human engagement.
The investigations of the future will look a lot different to those of the present and certainly of the past.
I have no doubt that we will see police investigations being managed by AI, with the flow on including the interviews of suspects and offenders likely conducted by AI. In turn, AI will tip the legal profession and procedure on its head and many lawyers will likely be out of work.
When this happens, we will have reached the ‘tipping point’. This is when science and technology is no longer supporting human endeavour. At this point humans will be the servants to science and technology. We will be merely maintenance monitors ensuring that some energy or other service requirement is met when required. Or as the servants of AI, dutifully bound to carry out any instructions or decisions the AI entity requires actioned.
However, there will be some growth areas needing an increased workforce. Although, some of the work in these areas may also be undertaken by AI. In my opinion the growth areas will be in community health and wellbeing, mental health, public order, and homelessness. These areas will see an increased demand for skilled workers and specialists trained to support the impact of unemployment, mortgage stress, mental health and so on.
I am not attempting to suggest a ban on AI or S & T. That thought would be as absurd as suggesting that the cavemen who first discovered the use of fire, or flint should have been executed. What I am suggesting is that International decision makers should understand the potential of the monster, and control its birth by introducing international laws now on such things as identity theft, intellectual property theft, and many other serious issues all relating to AI.
Strong limitations on where and when AI can be used should also be introduced. Laws should include a criminal offence for failing to disclose that a product, publication, or anything contains AI; with full disclosure at the start of any visual, audio or written material.
A bold AI content disclosure at the start of a piece of work would then leave it up to the conscience and ethics of the consumer to make a choice whether to consume the work or not, which would depend on the consumer’s opinion as to the impact of AI on themselves and their community.
In 2025 ‘Footprints in the Wilderness’ (FITW) through our new direction of ‘Stone Smithing’ will be focussing on protecting our intellectual property and the real intelligence of investigative thinking, by closeting our studies and knowledge through specialist packages on a range of topics, which will be available via our web site at www.missinginaustralia.com.au
The fundamental thing we should all remember is that AI, much like a lot of what we see on the Internet is by definition ‘artificial’ and not real intelligence.
When we reach the critical point of allowing ourselves to be influenced by artificial intelligence in an unrealistic world, we have as a civilisation lost all sense of reality.
What do you think?
Written by Valentine Smith APM (Co-founder of Footprints in the Wilderness)
Footprintsinthewilderness.com.au – December 2024
[i] Afraid 2024 produced by Columbia Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, distributed by Sony Pictures.
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