Confronting the long-term risks of Artificial Intelligence

Source: This post has been created based on the article “Confronting the long-term risks of Artificial Intelligence” published in The Hindu on 17^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Science and Technology — Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

News: This article discusses the long-term risks associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence. It also highlights the challenges in tackling those risks and suggests solutions to the same.

What are the kinds of risks associated with AI?

1) Short-term risks: These might be more tangible, such as ensuring that an AI system does not malfunction in its day-to-day tasks.

2) Long-term risks: These are related to the broader existential questions about AI’s role in society and its implications for humanity.

What are the various long-term risks?

1) Mixing of AI and Biotechnology: This could fundamentally alter humanity by the manipulation of human emotions, thoughts, and desires.

2) Disruption of crucial services: If essential infrastructure such as water supply and electricity rely on AI, any malfunction or manipulation could disrupt these services.

3) Risks of ‘Runaway AI’ (AI systems breaking free of human control): These could engage in manipulations such as the alteration of chemical balances in water supplies, which may lead to disaster.

4) Outpacing of human intellect: AI may eventually lead to super-intelligence that is superior to human intellect. The misuse of this super-intelligence may have dire consequences.

5) Lack of human values in how AI functions: Aligning AI with universally accepted human values will be a challenge.

6) Rapid pace of change: This leads to undermining of safety considerations, and may lead to unchecked AI development.
This unregulated progress can lead to AI that is misaligned with global ethical standards, creating a risk of conflict and undermining peace and security.

7) Military AI: The confluence of AI technology with warfare multiplies these long-term risks.

What are the various challenges in tackling these risks?

1) Lack of a unified approach: This will hamper long-term safety and ethical deployment of AI technologies.

2) Lack of a holistic approach: Looking at risks only in the deployment area is an oversimplified strategy which might overlook certain other risks.

3) Lack of a level-playing field due to absence of collaboration and cohesive action: For e.g. If a country does not enact regulations on AI while others do, it would likely gain a competitive edge in terms of AI advancements and deployments.
This uneven playing field can encourage other nations to loosen their regulatory frameworks to maintain competitiveness, which will further compromise AI safety.

What should be done?

Addressing these risks requires a multifaceted approach and considering current challenges against potential future ramifications.

A more holistic view of AI risks is necessary to ensure comprehensive and effective regulation and oversight.

Nations must specify where AI deployment is unacceptable and enforce clear norms for its role in warfare.