Artificial Intelligence: Earths Salvation or Destruction?

BY ANDREW MUNROE

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Long ago, before the discovery of electricity, we knew about artificial intelligence. In
Greek mythology, there were heroes made of hammered bronze, and steel nails, wielding swords
and defending cities, and mechanical bulls that functioned by themselves. A Greek inventor,
Daedalus or Hephaestus, created artificial intelligence, Talos, a giant automaton made of bronze
in order to defend a woman. While this may be a myth, humans did believe in intelligence in
non-organic form. These ideas quickly evolved until the thought of having modern artificial
intelligence was planted by classical philosophers who wanted to describe the process of human
thinking as mechanical, based on mathematical reasoning.
In 1958 these ideas took root when John McCarthy, an American computer and cognitive
scientist, developed a computer program that could play chess against opponents. While this may
not be a huge achievement compared to the technology that is in our world today, back then
McCarthy was considered one of the founding fathers of AI (artificial intelligence).

But what actually is artificial intelligence? In an article written by Stanford addressing

McCarthys program, It is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines,
especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to
understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are
biologically observable. Essentially artificial intelligence is the process of trying to make a
computer program that functions just like a human being, it can understand, learn, rearticulate
information, and so much more. Many people think of artificial intelligence as being highly
cognitive robots that can control the world, but in fact, artificial intelligence can be almost
anything you see in todays society. Almost everyone has a phone in their pocket, a piece of
technology that is using AI, and many people dont realize that the gps in their cars is actually
AI, using your location and destination to find the best route. AI is in everything from your car to
your house, and we use it every day.
But if humans continue to create advanced artificial intelligence, will it eventually start to
take over everything that we, as humans, do? Undoubtedly, AI could have many benefits, such
as helping to aid the eradication of war, disease and poverty, scientists wrote. Creating
intelligent machines would be one of the biggest achievements in human history, they wrote, but
it might also be the last," stated in an article by LifeScience. While artificial intelligence may
one day spell the end of humanity, we cant help but look at the amazing things that AI has done
for us. Long ago, humans had to write out letters by hand, and proofread for hours, but now,
computers have sped up processes that would normally take hours, humans can send mail
electronically in seconds. Today artificial intelligence is even used to find tumors in health care
patients, saving hundreds of lives. When you call the bank and talk to an automated voice you
are probably talking to an AIjust a very annoying one. Artificial intelligence has improved
life in so many different areas that we often forget that its even there.
At this point in time, artificial intelligence doesnt pose a threat to the world and in many
ways is used in place of humans. The military is even using artificial intelligence to direct
drones to drop bombs, detect threats through satellite, and to sometimes drive trucks through
minefields. So, why havent we completely automated warfare? MIT wrote a document about
AI saying that, The issue of automating lethal weapons has been a concern for scientists as well
as military and policy experts for some time. The military has no problem allowing complete
autonomy to control missile launchers, or even robots to drop bombs. The problem is that when
we allow autonomous weapons to be used without human intervention they become lethal when
a target includes a human. It may also be hard to allow AI into the military when there is the
International Humanitarian Law, which in part states that weapons that violate the principles of
humanity and the dictates of public conscience, aren't allowed. Artificial intelligence cant
currently satisfy these terms. Also, allowing the decisions over life and death to be judged by an
autonomous system is unethical because it violates humanitarian principles, which is the practice

of saving lives and alleviating suffering. The capabilities of autonomous AI could possibly leave
humans completely defenseless, not a desirable future. While we may have the capabilities to
create automated warfare, we must first face the ethics of our decisions, and the human lives that
it would save, or destroy.
The real question is: should we let artificial intelligence continue to help in our daily
lives, or stop it before robots take away our freedom? Every day humans use artificial
intelligence, every day humans increase artificial intelligence growth to make it even more
powerful. Humans have already relinquished many intelligent tasks, such as the ability to write,
navigate, memorize facts or do calculations, also in the article by LifeScience. Artificial
intelligence is growing at an enormous rate. But everywhere, AI is helping humans live more
prosperous lives, improving jobs, and even giving people more freedom.