{"id":936,"date":"2023-05-02T10:01:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T08:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/?p=936"},"modified":"2024-06-10T16:00:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T14:00:12","slug":"artificial-intelligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/?p=936","title":{"rendered":"Artificial intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote>\n<p>Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I&#8217;m not sure about the universe.<br \/><em>Albert Einstein<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Einstein\u2019s genius was instrumental in the creation of the atomic bomb. When he became aware that his ideas were being used to develop the bomb, he warned FDR of the potential consequences<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_936_1('footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_936_1('footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_936_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Making-Atomic-Bomb-Richard-Rhodes-ebook\/dp\/B008TRU7SQ\/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1683005980&amp;sr=8-1\">The Making of the Atomic Bomb<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_936_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script>. Einstein was right, and his predictions were prescient. His concern: What will happen when the weapon falls into the wrong hands? North Korea\u2019s ambitions are proof.<\/p>\n<p>Warnings of the dangers from artificial intelligence (AI) are being painted as posing a similar existential threat<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_936_1('footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_936_1('footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_936_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-65452940\">AI &#8216;godfather&#8217; Geoffrey Hinton warns of dangers as he quits Google<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_936_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });<\/script>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There is a great deal of misunderstanding about AI. That\u2019s to some degree because even the experts often don\u2019t agree on what it really is.<\/p>\n<p>AI in its truest sense is self learning. It identifies errors, and it fixes them, thus avoiding repetition. That\u2019s good. If only humans would learn from their mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>The problem now is the objectives that the AI is instructed to achieve, and what is identified as an error.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say the objective is maximum economic growth. The AI calculates that maximum economic growth is achievable with 7.8 billion people on the planet, so it puts into effect a way of killing 200 million. Not a desirable outcome. So we need to cover everything in the objectives, and set very clear contstraints. We tell the AI: \u201cKilling people is not good\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>But what about income inequality.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>One thing\u2019s sure and nothing\u2019s surer.\u00a0The rich get richer and the poor get \u2013 children.<br \/><em>F. Scott Fitzgerald<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Great Hunger in Ireland is catastrophic proof of the lack of value placed on the life of poor people by the rich. That discrimination persists, albeit on a more subtle level. AI can eliminate it, if it is set as an objective.<\/p>\n<p>If we understand the potential threats, then we are already better off. We define objectives, and we prioritise those that conflict with one another, with AI alerting us to objectives conflict.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There is of course the concern that AI will create massive unemployment, as mechanisation initially did during the Industrial Revolution. No doubt it will. We should look at which jobs can and will be replaced by AI to see how we will be better off.<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers: at present, we need them to understand the law, produce contracts, and represent us in court. AI has the complete library of law, and the ability to draft contracts that meet the requirements of the parties. We won\u2019t need them in court, because AI will replace the judges.<\/p>\n<p>Judges: judges must be unbiased, have a comprehensive knowledge of the law, and must make decisions based on the evidence presented to them. AI has all of those attibutes, and since there is no entertainment or art in the presentation of the evidence, objectivity of the decision is guaranteed.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors: we need doctors to help us get well, and to guide us to stay healthy. They need a comprehensive understanding of how the human body and mind work and an encyclopaedic knowledge of medical solutions. They also must have a good bedside manner. And then there is surgery.<\/p>\n<p>AI has knowledge and understanding covered. It can evaluate the symptoms and calculate outcomes better than the leading experts. Surgery is a matter of building the robots. Bedside manner requires empathy, so perhaps there is still a little space for doctors, but the machines will be making the life and death decisions.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely<br \/><em>Lord Acton<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Politicians: politicians create laws, and fulfil the needs of the electorate, and set policy to achieve the country\u2019s goals. Laws are created in search of specific objectives, in the context of constraints.<\/p>\n<p>Novel solutions require imagination, and this is something that AI lacks. But, that novelty can come from any source, and does not require politicians.<\/p>\n<p>With AI there are no promises that may or may not become priorities. We will be far better off when AI replaces politicians.<\/p>\n<p>The machines don\u2019t hold power, and are not elected, so there is no risk of an AI <em>coup d\u2019\u00e9tat<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Setting policy is setting the rules given to bureaucrats to achieve the objectives. So, do we need bureaucrats?<\/p>\n<p>Bureaucrats: AI will be one machine replacing another, without the needs for salary or annual leave. We\u2019re better off again.<\/p>\n<p>Plumbers: No, we will still need them.<\/p>\n<p>Electricians: No we will still need them.<\/p>\n<p>So that is the future, We will spend the leisure hours we\u2019ve gained through artificial intelligence waiting for plumbers and electricians to keep their appointments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_936_1();\">References<\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_936_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_936_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_936_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\">References<\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_936_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_1');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_1\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Making-Atomic-Bomb-Richard-Rhodes-ebook\/dp\/B008TRU7SQ\/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1683005980&amp;sr=8-1\">The Making of the Atomic Bomb<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index_combi pointer\"  onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_936_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_936_1_2');\"><a id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_936_1_2\" class=\"footnote_backlink\"><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-65452940\">AI &#8216;godfather&#8217; Geoffrey Hinton warns of dangers as he quits Google<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_936_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_936_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_936_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_936_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_936_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_936_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_936_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_936_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_936_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_936_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_936_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_936_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_936_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_936_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I&#8217;m not sure about the universe.Albert Einstein\u00a0 Einstein\u2019s genius was instrumental in the creation of the atomic bomb. When he became aware that his ideas were being used to develop the bomb, he warned FDR of the potential consequences[1]The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Einstein&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/?p=936\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Artificial intelligence<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[96,93],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=936"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1352,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions\/1352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrvhealth.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}