In all my years building internet businesses, I’ve never witnessed a moment in time that was as impactful as today. As an entrepreneur, investor and adviser, I firmly believe the next decade will be the “decade of abundance” due to technological advancements like artificial intelligence.
We are witness to the next
“iPhone moment,” and it should be embraced, not feared. There are valid reasons for the pessimism that Elon Musk and others outline in a recent
open letter, where he and other tech leaders urged a pause of AI development for six months. They are worried AI will replace human beings.
While discussion of that concern should be ongoing, pausing the development of AI for six months is problematic for several reasons. First, AI is a rapidly evolving field, and pausing research could mean that important breakthroughs and advancements are missed. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives and industries, it is crucial that we continue to develop and refine these technologies to ensure that they are safe, effective and accessible.
Secondly, pausing AI research could lead to a loss of funding and talent. AI research is highly competitive, and if one institution or country pauses research, it could fall behind its peers and lose money and talent. This could lead to a decline in innovation and competitiveness in the field, which could impact economic growth and societal progress.
Third, pausing AI research could also have negative implications for national security. AI has the potential to impact military and defense systems, and if research is paused, it could mean that certain countries fall behind in terms of military capability and technological sophistication.
Additionally, I do believe there may be more at play here. Some believe that Musk is urging for a pause due to self-interest. They believe that Musk is disappointed that he doesn’t have his own brand of ChatBPT yet. Musk was co-founder of OpenAI years back and left due to other competitive projects he was working on. As much as people want to make this letter from Musk as a good faith feather to put in his cap, he’s also being mindful of his other interests and the competitive landscape associated. Nobody wants to miss out on arguably the biggest opportunity of their lifetime without putting up a fight, especially if they were close enough to having it themselves.
Here are key reasons why we should be leaning into exploring this life-changing technology that will empower the globe.
AI is only as intelligent as we make it
One of the primary reasons why AI is nothing to be afraid of is that it is ultimately created and programmed by humans. This means that we have control over the development of AI and can ensure that it is designed to be safe and beneficial for society. We can program AI with ethical principles, such as the need to avoid causing harm, respect for privacy and transparency in decision-making. In addition, we can limit the scope of AI systems, ensuring that they are only capable of performing specific tasks and don’t have the ability to make decisions outside of their intended use cases.
Furthermore, the development of AI is subject to regulation and oversight by governments and other organizations. This ensures that AI is developed in a responsible and transparent manner and that it is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
AI can enhance our lives
AI has already demonstrated its ability to improve our lives in many ways, and it has the potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. In health care, for example, AI can be used to analyze medical data and assist doctors in making diagnoses and developing treatment plans. This can lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses, as well as personalized treatment plans that are tailored to the needs of individual patients.
In education, AI can be used to provide personalized learning experiences for students. AI-powered chatbots can help students with their homework and provide additional resources when needed. AI can also be used to analyze student data, identifying areas where students are struggling and providing targeted interventions to help them succeed.
In transportation, AI can be used to improve safety and efficiency. Self-driving cars, for example, can reduce the number of accidents caused by human error, while AI-powered traffic management systems can reduce congestion and improve travel times.
AI is not capable of emotions
One of the key fears surrounding AI is that it will become sentient and turn against humanity. However, this fear is unfounded because AI lacks emotions and the ability to experience consciousness. AI is simply a tool that can perform tasks based on algorithms and rules. It does not have the motivations, desires, or biases that humans have.
This means that AI is not capable of malice or intent to cause harm. It cannot act with ill will or have hidden agendas. Any decisions made by AI are based on the data and algorithms provided by humans, which means that AI is only as unbiased and objective as the humans who created it.
AI can improve safety and security
AI can be used to enhance safety and security measures in a variety of areas. For example, AI can be used to detect and prevent cybersecurity threats, identifying potential attacks and responding in real-time to prevent them from occurring. AI can also be used to monitor and analyze data from security cameras, identifying potential threats and alerting authorities when necessary.
In a disaster response, AI can be used to analyze data from sensors and other sources to predict and respond to natural disasters. AI-powered drones can be used to survey disaster areas and provide real-time information to first responders, helping them to make more informed decisions and save lives.
AI requires human oversight
While AI has the ability to make decisions on its own, it still requires human oversight to ensure that it is functioning properly and making decisions that align with our values and goals. This means that humans will always play a crucial role in the development and use of AI.
Human oversight is important for several reasons. First, it ensures that AI is being used in a responsible and ethical manner. Second, it allows humans to identify and correct any errors or biases in AI systems, ensuring that they are making decisions that are fair and just.
While there are certainly concerns about the impact of AI on society, there are also many positive developments that are likely to occur as a result of this technology. From health care to education to transportation, AI has the potential to make our lives better in many ways. As AI continues to evolve and develop, it is important that we approach its use with caution and care, but we should also recognize the many benefits that it can bring to society.
Joe Nigro is a Connecticut entrepreneur who has used AI extensively in his career.
