01-08-2025
How AI will change all our lives forever
AI is already enabling personalised treatments, aiding in predictive diagnostics and improving patient care, and will see further inroads made in disease prevention and treatments. — Photo from
ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) has arrived in full force and will impact our future, transforming industries, the job market and our daily lives in ways that we haven't even thought of.
The exciting possibilities that it poses challenge our imagination and give us hope for so many positive outcomes – in the fields of increased productivity, personalised healthcare and other innovative solutions.
At the same time, AI has also raised our concerns about job displacement, data privacy and many ethical considerations.
AI's integration into the various sectors of human endeavour, from manufacturing to finance, is already reshaping the way we work and live.
Its continued development and presence (many call it 'intrusion') into our daily lives will require extremely careful management so that humans remain its masters to harness its myriad benefits and at the same time, mitigate its many potential risks and dangers.
How will AI affect our future?
AI-powered automation has already been used to streamline processes in various industries which has led to increased productivity and efficiency.
In return, we have had reduced human errors and in cases of emergencies, autobots have been able to work around the clock without any breaks in between.
The downside?
Automation has meant the loss of jobs that previously were handled by humans.
A drastic reduction in manpower needs spell doom for fast growing populations, especially those in India, China, and many Third World countries.
There are five areas where I personally feel that AI will impact in a most positive way.
They are revolutionising healthcare; transforming transportation; advancing agriculture; modernising finance; and reshaping retail trade.
AI is already enabling personalised treatments, aiding in predictive diagnostics and improving patient care, and will see further inroads made in disease prevention and treatments.
It is also driving improvements in autonomous vehicles, optimising traffic flow and advancing logistics in ways both accurately and expeditiously.
In agriculture, AI has made strides in improving crop yields, managed environmental impact and optimized resource utilisation.
It has also assisted in rendering ideas and statistical solutions for humans to further explore the new possibilities on gainful production systems.
AI's use in the world of finance has assisted in fraud detection, algorithmic trading and in personalised financial advice.
However, in this field, it has its detractors who feel that AI is also capable of intruding too much into our personal data and thus, the 'invasion of privacy' issue is still being hotly debated.
Finally, in the field of retail trade, AI has been responsible for optimising e-commerce platforms, improving customer service and offering highly personalized shopping experiences.
With the fast-growing trade online with speedy deliveries to homes and offices, this has meant more efficient systems and a faster delivery time frame for both supplier and customer.
What about the impact of AI on the job market?
Bill Gates was famously quoted having said in March this year (Source: CNBC) that most jobs would vanish in the 'Age of AI', but there would be three professions left that would outlast the machines: coders, energy experts and biologists; 'fields that demand creativity, real world problem-solving, and ethical judgement – all the key factors that AI is not able to fully replicate'.
Gates continued to add that AI too would replace many doctors and teachers, and that humans would not be needed for most things!
Geoffrey Hinton, one of the most respected minds in AI and often called the 'Godfather of AI', in a recent interview, had also sounded the alarm.
Hinton said that AI could begin rewriting its own code within the next five years, and when that happened, it would become increasingly difficult for humans to understand, manage or control what these systems would be doing, or why they would be doing it.
Scary, isn't it?
As AI becomes more autonomous and capable of modifying itself, the risks multiply, from runaway learning systems to the development of goals misaligned with our human values and ethics.
In the meantime, AI-powered automation will likely replace workers in routine and repetitive jobs, requiring a shift towards more creative and analytical roles.
Individuals will need to adapt to the changing job market by acquiring new skills and embracing lifelong learning.
Of most serious concern are the ethical and societal implications of what AI can do and will most likely be used for extensively – that of data privacy, security and regulation.
All AI systems rely heavily or almost entirely on vast amounts of data, raising concerns about data privacy and security.
There is also the fear that with AI algorithms, societal or guided biases input if aimed at biased targets can lead to unfair, discriminatory and even fatal outcomes.
It is, therefore, crucial to develop and deploy AI systems responsibly, and for all users and those in positions to wield commands over them, to fully consider all these ethical implications to ensure fairness, balance and transparency.
As AI becomes more pervasive by the day, it is up to our governments and organisations to establish appropriate regulations and governance frameworks to ensure its safe and ethical use.
As the 'Godfather of AI, Hinton stresses the gravity of the urgent need for international cooperation and ethical safeguards.
He has called for a global ban on autonomous AI weapons and a code of conduct to ensure that AI could not be exploited to spread misinformation, manipulate populations or develop dangerous levels of autonomy.
AI, per se, holds immense potential to transform our future for the better, the greater good, but it also presents humankind significant challenges that require proactive management.
We must address all the ethical concerns while fostering responsible development as we prepare our workforce for the changing landscape.
With the right approach and a balanced mindset, we can use and harness the limitless power of AI to help us create a more prosperous, equitable, peaceful and harmonious future for us all.
May God help us all if a day comes when the machines take total control.
Amen.
* The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper.
