Athan Kang (10) | STAFF REPORTER
With modern advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as Tesla’s self-driving cars, AI has been slowly integrated into the lives of almost everyone today. Even though AI has improved quality of life, some people believe that there is a limit to the trustworthiness of these machines and programs.
Although people consider AI to be smarter than themselves, it is unable to think, make decisions, or come up with ideas on their own; AI only acts upon what it is programmed to do. For example, the Face-ID recognition on iPhones are only programmed to unlock the phone if it recognizes the user’s full face. So if the user were to try and unlock their iPhone while wearing a mask, the iPhone won’t unlock since it cannot recognize all of the user’s facial features.
Individuals who program AI are the ones making the decisions or ideas behind the actions the technology performs, which can sometimes cause harm. Even though there are many benefits people can harvest from these digital engines, there are also those who intentionally misuse it. AI should not be blamed for any sort of harm it causes since the programmer behind the intelligence system may have intended for the program to produce those results.
Misuse of these advanced algorithms and applications can be unintentional as some people within society might have not fully adapted to its advancements. There’s a reason behind why some of the older generation rely on the younger ones to help them operate AI. Back in the day, people were used to relying on other methods to get things done instead of using something like a cell phone. So, an older person may unknowingly tap the “Emergency” button on their phone without knowing that they are about to call 911.
Ultimately, artificial intelligence is something that, if used correctly, can bring humanity a step closer to the future. It is a developer’s responsibility to ensure that the final result is safe for the public to rely on. Over time, as new technological innovations are increasingly integrated into the lives among society, the digital barriers built between humanity and technology will slowly crumble.
