Artificial Future

Negative effects of artificial intelligence on the future

Lorelei Carlton, Features Editor

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that “for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This law not only applies to our physical environment, but can also be detected in society’s motives today. 

Part of our goal as humans is to enhance our lifestyle to fit our needs and to value convenience when it is given to us. This goal led to the invention of a problem-solving system that acts as an alternative to the human mind, which is best known as Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

AI began as the idea to create a machine that would think and act like a human in order to improve our manner of living and the coming times. However, this idea bred negative effects that promote an opposite outcome to the initial goal. Therefore, Artificial Intelligence will not benefit society and the general future of the world.

AI will destruct what we consider a “normal life” by causing an increased amount of unemployment. 

According to PewResearch.org, the 2014 Future of the Internet canvassing depicts that 48% of experts “envision a future in which robots and digital agents have displaced significant numbers of both blue—and white-collar workers.”

If this is the case, AI has the ability to destroy the work industry and our future prosperity.

Privacy dangers also emerge from the system of AI due to the desire for increased data. 

To support this concept, David A. Teich on Forbes.com recognized the instance of when Target “figured out if people were pregnant based on purchase patterns, and the company then sent coupons to the addresses of those customers.” 

This is an obvious issue because it dismisses standardized ethics and invades the privacy of many women. It leads us to believe that businesses know more about individuals than they let on. Ultimately, this makes us suspect whether AI is being used for positive purposes or if it is just hiding behind a facade.

Some could argue that AI improves everyday life by making it more pleasant and convenient with the help of digital assistants. While this may be true, AI is slowly manipulating our behaviors and values.

Tim Duclos, World History AP and Honors teacher, reveals his concerns on how AI will affect youth. 

“I’m worried that people will be making decisions without even realizing it’s not really them that’s making the decision. The AI is feeding them certain information that will do the thinking for them—and it will only get worse,” Duclos said.

If the next generation yields to the underlying change in conduct that AI presents, this poses a deep threat to future society.

In brief, AI will not better the future of our world due to its result in unemployment, privacy risks, and brainwashing abilities. 

Although our goal is to improve our lifestyle through convenience, there are better methods to do so without involving technology that will essentially harm society. We should focus on developing our community in a way that considers the coming times and avoids creating an opposite reaction to what our intended mission is.