The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) augurs a world of possibilities and challenges. The future scope of AI is vast, with the potential to revolutionize almost every aspect of human life. Such as in a developing country like India, AI can do wonders in the healthcare and education sectors. On the medical frontier, AI can be used to develop new drugs, identify diseases and disorders earlier, and provide personalized treatments. While on the academic arena, AI can provide personalized learning experiences, automate grading, and assist teachers in developing curricula.
Additionally, as India is looking to grow its manufacturing sector and diversify its transport and logistic infrastructure, AI can help optimize traffic flow, improve safety, and develop self-driving vehicles, while subsequently improving automation, optimizing supply chains, and predicting future maintenance needs. As India embarks on its digital transformation, AI can be used for fraud detection, risk management, and to develop better digital architecture.
However, it is important to continue to research and develop AI technology in a responsible and ethical manner, taking into consideration the potential risks and benefits. There are myriad potential dangers associated with AI as well. The most ominous being job displacement. As AI technology continues to develop, there is a risk that it may replace many human jobs, leading to significant unemployment.
Furthermore, in a country with 1.4 Billion opinions, AI can be used to for social engineering to manipulate thoughts and influence ideologies leading to bias and discrimination in the society. AI systems can be biased if they are trained on data that is not representative of the entire population, leading to discrimination and unfair treatment. It is imperative to acknowledge that even the creators of AI technology do not know precisely how AI programs evaluate their decisions. This lack of procedural transparency by AI systems is called as the “Black Box” problem. Simply put, some AI systems are complex and their way of deciphering data is difficult to understand, which can make it difficult to determine how their decisions are being made.
Last, but certainly not the least, is the threat AI systems pose in the sphere of privacy and data security. AI systems can collect and store vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and security breaches. This poses a significant danger to global security.
To conclude, I would say that Artificial Intelligence is a tool much like Fire, if harnessed for good, then it can be used to create, however, if it is left uncontrolled, then it can cause mayhem and destruction. We as rational and intelligent human beings must be made aware of the possibilities and dangers of AI technologies, so that we can use it for the betterment of our lives and not for the detriment of others.
Abhishek Pathak
The author is a Digital Media Manager at PR Professionals, Gurugram
