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Jerica Fischer

Prof. Rutherford

English 15.3

3 December 2018

Humans Are Immune to The Threat of Artificial Intelligence

The 20th century has initiated the foundation for a future encircled with technology. This

stimulation has resulted in a mass panic declaring that artificial intelligence (AI) will render

human beings extinct; however, this is farfetched. If innovation is halted the world would

ultimately be trapped in time. It has been recognized that AI provides beneficial applications in

various aspects of life; as a result, one may deem it imperative to prolong the development of

technology to ensure a prosperous future for the Earth’s inhabitants. Artificial intelligence should

not be disregarded based off fears of an unpredictable future, but praised for its positive

influence on the economy and the society, and respected for the safety barriers created through

ethical standards.

Certainly, most individuals have utilized technology or purchased a product

manufactured by an intelligent machine. In this case, artificial intelligence is not an unfamiliar

concept. Artificial intelligence is defined as the ability of a machine to mimic human intelligence

and behaviors. There are many respected leaders in the AI community; for instance, “Jeff Bezos

of Amazon… and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook” (Smith). They convenience consumers by

supplying products and services aided by artificial intelligence. Presently, the Google Home and

Amazon Echo are the most well-known AI products available to the public. These devices use

conversational AI to generate responses comparable to a human-beings. Overall, artificial

intelligence has unknowingly shown its presence in a variety of daily functions.

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First and foremost, society is encircled with negativity and false claims towards AI;

therefore, fear is rapidly produced based off the unknown. Apprehension frequently derives from

the media, given that negative content attracts a sizable audience. This encourages media

platforms to accentuate the undesirable characteristics of artificial intelligence rather than the

positive. For instance, science-fiction movies are a well-known culprit of this problem.

According to Lindsay Bednar, the Communication Director at the Information Technology and

Innovation Foundation (ITIF), these movies generally display robots overpowering their human

creators. Bednar asserts that, “Most people… associate AI with Hollywood movies like The

Terminator” (Bednar). In addition to movies, policy makers are quick to slow innovation based

off a doomsday perspective. This exaggeration leads a viewer to envision a situation much worse

than reality. It is questioned, “How can policymakers support AI if they do not know what it is,

or worse, believe it is a threat” (Bednar). They demonstrate a negative viewpoint prior to

educating themselves on the subject; therefore, their statements may be biased. Individuals

alarmed by artificial intelligence should reevaluate their sources since opinions are rapidly

altered by the media.

Similarly, unreliable research is circulated by the media, resulting in trepidation

regarding the future of artificial intelligence. Although research appears to be a trustworthy

resource, conclusions are not permanent. Steven Overly, A Technology Journalist in

Washington, claims that research determining job displacement fluctuates due to the impact of

AI remaining speculative. An example of this situation is, “A 2016 study from The Organization

for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that 9% of jobs would be completely

displaced in the next two decades. Two academics from Oxford University, however, put that

number at 47% in a study conducted in 2013” (Overly). The Oxford Study is notorious for its
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irrational conclusions. The report stated that 47% of jobs will be automated in the next two

decades, but that does not translate to 47% unemployment. Currently, artificially intelligent

machines are only capable of performing minuscule tasks, thus they are far from completely

replacing certain occupations. In summary, opinions towards artificial intelligence are often

associated with unreliable research displayed by the media.

Although the benefits are often overlooked, artificial intelligence has significantly

improved economic efficiency. Modernization has made daily activities and routine processes

much more feasible through machine use. Laborers will be exchanged for artificially intelligent

machines only when deemed efficient. Consequently, inexpensive labor will lead to increased

production rates and reduced prices of final goods. Ultimately, consumers will have to spend less

money to receive more. According to Joseph Newhard, an Assistant Professor of Economics, this

will essentially provide more value to one’s dollar and intensify labor demand in other industries.

“Through this process, new jobs will emerge to service previously unfulfilled demands, even

providing job opportunities for some previously displaced workers” (Newhard). Consumers will

be able to purchase items in other industries with excess money and, as a result, those companies

will rise with success. Job automation, cause by artificially intelligent machines, will initiate

economic benefits for every social class.

Additionally, artificial intelligence offers benefits to the society. AI will provide

individuals with more of their most valuable commodity: time. On the account of Toby Walsh,

an Artificial Intelligence Professor, job automation will not result in unemployment, but instead

establish shorter work days. He claims that, “Before the Industrial Revolution, many worked 60

hours per week. After the Industrial Revolution, work reduced to around 40 hours per week. The

same could happen with the unfolding AI Revolution” (Walsh). Modernization has awarded
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workers with shorter labor hours for over a century now and an AI Revolution will boost this

progression. Alongside shortened work weeks, laborers will be able to pursue more satisfying

opportunities. For example, job automation has now allowed individuals to occupy services such

as, “Firemen, police, professors, doctors,… athletes, and social media managers” (Newhard). In

the past, these occupations were not provided professionally since work was fashioned towards

sustaining a living. In summary, artificially intelligent machines will allocate more free time to

the working population, permitting laborers to engage in new experiences.

Despite several concerns, the invention of modern artificial intelligence will prioritize

benefiting people rather than harming them if the creators are meticulous with their designs.

Ethical principles have been designed to minimize the concerns of many individuals and to

organize a controlled production of AI. John Markoff, a writer for the Business Section of The

New York Times, accentuates that the world’s largest tech companies are verifying an ethical

process to create AI. The objective of the ethical process is to, “Ensure that A.I. research is

focused on benefiting people, not hurting them” (Markoff). It is acknowledged that regulations

must be applied, but should not terminate research completely. The future of artificial

intelligence possesses immense benefits, and it would be unfortunate to obstruct this. In

conclusion, AI will not be created blindly, but instead follow and ethical process that will cease

fears of many individuals.

Innovation will inevitably lead to challenges, but it is imperative that they are addressed

in a timely manner. Inventors must pioneer new products with a shared sense of responsibility;

meanwhile, consider the safety of users and the impact on workers. Brad Smith, President and

Chief Legal Officer at Microsoft, discusses that rules must be implemented to ensure the creation

of AI remains beneficial. Smith declares six ethical principles innovators must follow: “AI
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systems are fair, reliable and safe, private and secure, inclusive, transparent, and accountable”

(Smith). It is crucial that everyone works in an organized approach. A world powered by AI will

need a variety of human input besides those in science, technology, and engineering fields. In

fact, the social sciences and humanities will become more prevalent when computers interact like

humans. For that reason, everyone must supply their involvement and communicate among their

peers. Challenges will be diminished if ethical principles are adhered to and ideas are shared.

An immense population of individuals fear that artificial intelligence will introduce mass

unemployment; however, there are many solutions to this dilemma. Artificial intelligence is only

in its infancy; therefore, it is questionable that the job market will be threatened any time soon.

Steven Overly argues that technology has followed its own process of evolution. He states, “If

there has been one constant over 250 years of technological change, it has been the ongoing

impact of technology on jobs— the creation of new jobs, the elimination of existing jobs and the

evolution of job tasks and content” (Overly). In the past century, technology has developed

rapidly, yet there has not been a concern for unemployment due to jobs being created in new

industries replacing those that have been lost. At the current rate, job automation will not

displace workers as fast as projected. In the unlikely case that mass unemployment does occur,

“The federal government should expand both access to education in technical fields and the

scope of unemployment benefits” (Overly). There are many proposed solutions to this concern,

so individuals should cease fear of job loss.

In conclusion, the media has negatively impacted many opinions towards artificial

intelligence, resulting in a mass panic. This is unnecessary given that the future of AI is

unpredictable. Artificial intelligence provides numerous benefits in the economy and the society

including reduced prices, minimized labor, and increased free time. Innovators are not creating
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artificial intelligence blindly but instead following ethical principles to ensure benefiting humans

rather than harming them. Although there are many concerns targeted towards the future of AI, it

is improbable that mass unemployment will occur. Overall, the production of artificial

intelligence should not be halted, but appreciated for its positive impact on the economy and the

society, and recognized for restrictions created through ethical standards.

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Works Cited

Bednar, Lindsay. “With Artificial Intelligence Providing Countless Benefits to Society, ITIF's

Center for Data Innovation Urges Policymakers to Accelerate Development and

Adoption.” ITIF, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, 11 Oct. 2016,

itif.org/publications/2016/10/11/artificial-intelligence-providing-countless-benefits-

society-itifs-center.

Drum, Kevin. “You Will Lose Your Job to a Robot-and Sooner than You Think.” Mother Jones,

Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress, 4 Jan. 2018,

www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/you-will-lose-your-job-to-a-robot-and-sooner-

than-you-think/.

Eldridge, Douglas. “Why the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Outweigh the Risks.” CMS Wire,

Simpler Media Group, 22 Feb. 2017, www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/why-the-

benefits-of-artificial-intelligence-outweigh-the-risks/.

Hintze, Arend. “What an Artificial Intelligence Researcher Fears about AI.” Scientific American,

Springer Nature, 14 July 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-an-artificial-

intelligence-researcher-fears-about-ai/.

Kochan, Thomas. “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work.” MIT Management Sloan

School, MIT Sloan School of Management, 2 Apr. 2018,

mitsloanexperts.mit.edu/artificial-intelligence-and-the-future-of-work-thomas-kochan/.

Markoff, John. “How Tech Giants Are Devising Real Ethics for Artificial Intelligence.” The New

York Times, The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2016,

www.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/technology/artificial-intelligence-

ethics.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer.
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Newhard, Joseph Michael. “Artificial Intelligence Can Spark Job Growth.” Opposing Viewpoints

Online Collection, Gale, 2018,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/RHFXAU860117222/OVIC?u=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=b

d4a2ea4.

Overly, Steven. “Artificial Intelligence Could Cost Millions of Jobs. The White House Says We

Need More of It.” Chicago Tribune, 22 Dec. 2016,

www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/technology/ct-white-house-artificial-intelligence-jobs-

report-20161221-story.html.

Smith, Brad. “Shaping a Future of Artificial Intelligence That Benefits Society.” POLITICO,

n.p., 23 Jan. 2018, www.politico.eu/sponsored-content/shaping-a-future-of-artificial-

intelligence-that-benefits-society/.

Walsh, Toby. “Will Robots Bring about the End of Work?” The Guardian, Guardian News and

Media, 1 Oct. 2017, www.theguardian.com/science/political-science/2017/oct/01/will-

robots-bring-about-the-end-of-work.