Consequences of Abusing the Power of AI

Throughout the last decade, technology has become an essential tool for completing everyday tasks in addition to large-scale operations. From the alarm clock used to wake someone up in the morning to the car driven daily, technology plays a fundamental role in the lives of most people. Nonetheless, it seems we, as a society, have merely scratched the surface of the potential uses of modern technology. Each year, new astounding technological advancements propel the ever-growing technology industry and ultimately shape society's future. In recent years, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the new and intriguing facet of technology. The ability for machines to mimic human behavior and make informed decisions has proven to be both an exciting and useful tool. However, with the increased demand and interest for such a powerful tool comes increased risk and responsibility. If developers of future technology are not vigilant toward the volume of AI replacing human tasks and the volume of data given to these machines, the future of humanity, as it is currently defined, could be in serious jeopardy. To illustrate these potential dangers, we will discuss what it means to be human and how that could possibly change, the political and societal implications AI may impose, and the fear and uncertainty an AI-ruled future embodies. One of the most controversial movements pertaining to AI is the transhumanism movement, which advocates for the advancement of the human race – particularly life extension and memory storage – by means of technology. According to present theological anthropology, human beings are finite, relational, embodied, and vulnerable species. This movement attempts to remove one or even all of the qualities that define what it means to be human, raising several reasons for caution. Firstly, life extension alters one of the most important features of human life: mortality. It is because we are finite that we cherish life and its value, and are motivated to have an impact on the world. Life extension diminishes this notion of how precious life is and would certainly change the future of humanity for the worse. Secondly, the transhumanist movement would depreciate the relational aspect of human life. Housing data by recording memories may initially sound useful, but it ruins the relational aspects of life with both the self and others. The ability to experience new and real situations would be lost to this unnecessary use of AI, weakening the value placed on relationships and experiences. Beyond the definition of humanity, the overuse of AI also poses a threat to the political and social future of humanity. For decades, democracies have proven to be more successful than dictatorships. However, future advancements in AI will likely make dictatorship a more plausible option than democracy. Democracy allows data to be outsourced to different groups and people, whereas dictatorship concentrates data, which is why democracy has always been superior in terms of data processing. For example, in the twentieth century, the Americans consistently made better decisions than the Soviet Union and sustained a superior economy because they operated in a democracy rather than a dictatorship. However, with future advancements in AI showing promise in handling mass volumes of data, concentrating all data in one group becomes more feasible, which presents a significant problem. The shift to dictatorship allows for better data processing but inevitably surrenders more authority to machines rather than humans. This directly ties into the discussion of what it means to be human. Once we concede all authority to machines, we effectively diminish our ability to make our own informed decisions – a fundamental part of what it means to be human. We already allow apps like Google, music streaming services, and food delivery platforms to make informed decisions for us; it won’t be long before the magnitude of these decisions becomes greater, requiring careful monitoring of the data we give AI. Furthermore, the prospect of an AI-dominated future embodies extreme unpredictability, which may jeopardize the future of humanity. Society has voiced uncertainty, and in some cases, fear of a predominantly AI-controlled future through forums that have gone viral. An example is Roko’s Basilisk, a thought experiment illustrating the apocalyptic despair of future punishment through AI. While this notion of an apocalyptic future for humanity, predicated on the creation of a supremely intelligent AI, is somewhat drastic, the negative feedback it received was extremely thought-provoking. Several forum members claimed to have suffered psychological damage as a result, and the post was banned along with similar comments. This thought experiment gives insight into what may result from the misuse of AI. The negative reception proves that not everyone is receptive to the idea of an AI-controlled future and reinforces the argument that a human-controlled future is far more desirable. Additionally, the Roko’s Basilisk post ties into the argument about allowing AI to make informed decisions and wield authority. The uncertainty of implementing such powerful technology presents a reasonable argument against attempting to do so. The data collected from this thought experiment demonstrates that society may not be ready or capable of properly monitoring and implementing AI technology that holds such authority. AI has been a monumental breakthrough in recent years and undoubtedly has a role in benefiting human lives. However, as we develop increasingly powerful technology, we must be careful about how much data we concede to AI. Failure to restrict AI's access to data could prove detrimental to humanity’s future. For instance, the transhumanist movement could alter what it means to be human and diminish the precious value of life’s greatest experiences. Additionally, concentrating mass volumes of data to a select group would allow AI to make more informed, and perhaps even better, decisions than humans. Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding an AI-dominated future is undeniable, and not everyone is comfortable with that prospect. While the potential consequences of AI misuse are concerning, this does not mean that AI cannot play a beneficial role in humanity's future. If controlled properly and restricted, AI will likely become a cornerstone of humanity’s future, contributing significantly to the success of mankind.