When Machines Think, What Remains Human?
By: Dr. Tabiya Manzoor
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, AP
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has entered our lives, and it has brought about a transformation in how we think, work, converse and create. Right from education and medicine to social networks and workplaces, there are many opportunities presented with the help of AI. Yet, with machines doing what was always left for humans, a pertinent question arises, do we use AI to improve ourselves or do we lose our identity little by little by day?
A unique identity comes from independent thinking, creative capabilities, emotions, experiences and relations. In our present era, students are depending on AI to finish their assignments, professionals use this system to develop reports, and everyone uses machines for suggestions and decision making. Even though such things make our task easy, too much dependence on machines makes people weak in critical thinking and independent judgment.
Artificial intelligence can pose a danger to the authenticity of human communication. Machine-made visualizations, video content, voice, and even writing can appear very realistic. As people continue to turn to machines in expressing themselves, they run the risk of losing their own unique voices. At the same time, recommendation technologies can affect their preferences, ideals, values and dreams.
Human connections and professions are not immune to the dangers of artificial intelligence either. While artificial intelligence might be able to provide some sort of connection and support for people, they cannot experience empathy and emotional understanding that a person could give. Workplace automation can bring about increased efficiency and productivity, although it has its own set of challenges related to job creation and the importance of human contribution to society.
However, this does not necessarily imply that artificial intelligence will always be dangerous to humans. It may be used to facilitate healthcare improvement, educational process, improve the research process and promote creativity among many other benefits. What is critical here is the ability to strike a balance between technical assistance and personal autonomy.
In all, technology should serve mankind in enhancing its qualities rather than making it more dehumanized. When using artificial intelligence, one must ensure that he or she is not deprived of independence in decision making, empathy, authenticity, and ethicality.
While artificial intelligence can imitate us and assist our decisions, it should not define our identity. This is because what is more dangerous is not the growing similarity of machines to us but losing our unique traits. What the future holds is not so much an issue of how intelligent machines become, but how we use them.
Ultimately, the problem is not whether our identities will get erased gradually by AI, but our willingness to defend them.
