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Five Myths About Artificial Intelligence

28 Dec 2021
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As the field of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) matures at a rapid pace, so does the number of ways it is utilized. In our daily lives, we all make use of services that function using A.I without even realizing it. The next show you binge watch on Netflix, the next artist that Spotify recommends to you, or the next product that Amazon thinks you may like is all made possible through the use of Artificial Intelligence!

With the term Artificial Intelligence being thrown around as a buzzword in virtually every circle, it has led to a myriad of views regarding its capabilities. With so many claims and contradicting statements coming in from a variety of sources, a newbie just getting acquainted with all things A.I can easily be led into believing falsehoods. So here is a run-down of some of the myths that we are most likely to come across and why these shouldn’t be taken at face value.

Myth #1: We are approaching super intelligence

Reality: Even though achieving Artificial General Intelligence isn’t impossible, we do not know which challenges will have to be solved to make it a reality.

There is no shortage of well-renowned people who are sounding the alarm about the impending A.I apocalypse or of the Singularity. Although it’s tough to accurately predict what the state of affairs would be once machines surpass us in intelligence; we’re still a while away from encountering such a scenario.

If one were to evaluate the probability of such a situation materializing, it would lie between colonizing another planet and travelling faster than the speed of light! Although we know that achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) isn’t impossible, we currently do not know of the challenges that will have to be solved to make it a reality.

Myth #2: A.I eliminates human bias from decision making

Reality: Researchers have begun to utilize more transparent data sets and rectify inaccuracies.

One can be forgiven for assuming that relying on computers and removing humans from the equation would subsequently eliminate human bias. It was this assumption that led judges in the United States to rely on A.I tools to cast decisions on bail and sentencing.

However, a study conducted by ProPublica found that tools were biased against certain races and labelled white defendants as low risk. To address this issue, researchers have begun to utilize more transparent data sets and rectify inaccuracies.

Myth #3: High-skill jobs will not be affected by A.I

Reality: As banal and repetitive aspects of some professions are automated, its members will be afforded more time to focus on more human-centric facets.

Artificial intelligence has already begun to carry out tasks that were previously conducted by highly-trained professionals such as lawyers and doctors. It has helped in curtailing the repetitive aspects of these jobs such as scanning thousands of documents in seconds to highlight relevant points or analyzing x-ray and scans to diagnose diseases and save lives.

Both professions entail a mix of routine tasks (albeit technically complex) and procedures which require a human touch. For doctors, this could be informing a patient of a result compassionately, whereas, in the case of lawyers, it could be putting forth an argument in court that is most likely to sway a jury. As the banal and repetitive aspects of these professions are automated, its members will be afforded more bandwidth to focus on the more human-centric facets.

Myth #4: A.I will replace human jobs

Reality: A.I may disrupt a few job categories, but it will also lead to the birth of new jobs.

Many of us are wondering whether our job will be replaced by the supreme capabilities of Artificial Intelligence. Fearing if the dawn of new technology will lead to unemployment is understandable as people had similar reactions when technologies such as the barcode scanner or ATMs came about.

Jobs that require a very narrow skill set and entail carrying out repetitive tasks, such as that of a cashier or a paralegal, will be automated soon. Although A.I will disrupt several job categories, it will also lead to the birth of completely new roles.

Myth #5: A.I will take over the world

Reality: Whilst there are genuine concerns about the dangers of A.I, regulating the industry can keep things from spiraling out.

To cut to the chase, we’re not going to be serving under a supreme A.I entity that has its grips over humanity as many movies such as The Matrix and The Terminator would have you believe.

However, magnates such as Elon Musk and Bill Gates have highlighted genuine concerns about the dangers of A.I. The fact of the matter is that can never know for certain the path that A.I will take us.

Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella and Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai have both come forth backing ‘sensible regulation’ and global rules surrounding A.I. The pressing issue is not that A.I is a risk to humanity, but that we might be a risk to ourselves should we not tread lightly in our experiments with A.I.

Simran Singh Sabherwal
PGDM, Class of 2023