by Steve James on Sat Aug 05, 2017 8:18 pm
I think a distinction between AI and simple computers needs to be made. The "Siri" on your iPhone is AI. Like Alexa and Echo, it is merely an interface between the user and a computer. Right now, Siri is on millions of phones. Imo, no one should worry that they will talk to each other, and use their connections to the internet to take control our lives. It's much more likely that a human will exploit Siri than the other way around.
Of course, an AI could be designed with a mission (like a calculator) to find out the most efficient way to distribute food or save mankind. If that computer had the ability to execute those commands, it would be concerning. Actually, the Facebook AI example illustrates that humans would never give certain authorities to an artificial intelligence.
I've suggested that the reason for the fear of AI is that humans project their idea of intelligence onto machines. If they're like us, they'll want to take over or, at least, to ensure their survival. Freud called this particular type of fear the "unheimlisch" (loosely, the uncanny). His point was simple. Humans fear similarity more than difference. I.e., the reason that one group of humans will consider themselves superior is because they recognize their similarity. For ex., the "other" is always the greedy, violent, irrational one. It's not because they're different. It's because they want the same things.
Read Beowulf. The monster Grendel is a monster because he values the same thing as the Vikings (I know, not really; but close enough). He comes into their house, drinks their ale, kills some, takes some of their arms, and takes their gold. Then he comes back. If he were a Viking, he'd be The Hero. You know, the modern distinction between freedom fighter and terrorist. I doubt we'd ever give a computer the ability to judge mankind, or a country/people, and then act on it. I'm sure we'll come up with AI programmed to find the best way to eliminate the other. Skynet won't be built to protect mankind. It'll be built to punish someone or (as is already the case) to attack some other computer system.
"A man is rich when he has time and freewill. How he chooses to invest both will determine the return on his investment."