Redirecting pop-culture sensationalism, artifcial intelligence brings technological shifts to industry and human agency

The development of artifcial intelligence follows the 20th century’s predictions of the future, excluding fying vehicles. New software like ChatGPT formulates human-like responses when prompted and in doing so, infuences the way society operates. Although it is understandable to have concerns, AI will provide the means to improve a host of societal issues.

“I expect that as AI develops, tools that evaluate whether it is being used inappropriately will also develop. There will be a market and drive for improving upon AI and regulating how it is used, ” principal scientist at Ecotox, Kevin Brix, said.

According to a poll of 1,000 U.S. citizens conducted in 2023 by YouGov, about half of America believes otherwise. Along with this small sample size, AI is portrayed by the media in an apocalyptic way, a point of view that is misleading. Instead of raising awareness, this viewpoint distracts individuals from valid concerns such as job monopolization and social surveillance.

Additionally, these proposed worstcase scenarios often minimize the role that citizens have in establishing a social order. Societal pushback regulates the speed of change. An example of what will happen if countries misuse AI is the unrest in Venezuela. Recently, an unknown individual created fake news broadcasts using AI software to spread political misinformation. According to CNN, this abuse of AI has worsened public discontent and led to protests.

More concerning than cilization’s possible collapse due to AI, is the less avoidable impact it will have on human autonomy or the ability for one to be independent in everyday actions. As AI improves, more people will rely on it, lessening the need for an individual’s cognitive and social skills. For example, navigation technology like the Global Positioning System worsens its user’s spatial memory, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Scientifc Reports. It is likely that this cognitive erosion will increase as a symptom of increased AI use.

It is crucial to take note of the duality of AI: how AI will have an equally disastrous and enlightening effect on society. The effect AI will have on employment exemplifes this. Although developments in AI technology will indeed replace some jobs, history demonstrates that when jobs are lost to new technology, other roles are created in their place.

At a similar scale of technological development, the industrial revolution demonstrated these patterns. Before the dawn of industry, 80% of the world’s population participated in agriculture. During this change, new jobs in the textile industry attracted workers away from farms and into factories. Now, technology has left only 1% of the working population in farming. Recent AI developments will have similar effects on today’s industries.

In fact, AI is already integral to banking systems, as it enhances the speed and accuracy of transactions and better equips people to predict and stop fraud when working alongside AI. While it is likely that AI will replace a few jobs within the fnance industry, since it does not function without humans, it will also create new positions. In 2020, AI eliminated about 1.8 million jobs globally and created 2.3 million new jobs, according to Gartner.

“I am anxious that students will abuse AI and become over-reliant. AI interferes with students’ workfow and acquisition of knowledge. Its convenience will probably lead to societal instability,” freshman Beatrice Stampino-Strain said.