The Controversial Use of Artificial Intelligence
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center tracking excitement and concern of U.S. adults about Artificial Intelligence from July 31st-Aug 6th, 2023, 52% feel more concerned than excited, 32% feel equally excited and concerned, and 10% feel more excited than concerned. In recent years, the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies has sparked many controversies, with concerns about its ethics and impact on society and the economy. This paper will explore the multifaceted controversies surrounding AI, viewing various perspectives, concerns, and potential solutions. These will be broken down into legal and regulatory challenges, ethical considerations, and socio-economic impacts. Several kinds of media have shown us that AI has pros with movies like Bicentennial Man and cons with movies like Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. As AI continues to make its way into our everyday lives, understanding these controversies is crucial not only for policymakers and industry leaders but also for the general public.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
There are several hurdles to overcome while understanding the legal and regulatory environment surrounding artificial intelligence. Concerns around liability, property rights, and legality are brought up by the uses of AI technology, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in healthcare and finance industries. AI-generated creations present various problems regarding intellectual property rights. Establishing who owns AI-generated content raises difficulties about whether new laws are required or whether traditional copyright rules effectively protect such creations. Additionally, navigating complicated laws and regulations may not always be capable of dealing with the complexity of AI technology required to ensure the reliability of AI applications. To overcome these obstacles, a thorough approach integrating legal knowledge with an awareness of AI technology’s potential and limitations is needed.
Liability and Accountability in AI Systems
Many legal and ethical issues must be considered while addressing responsibility and accountability in artificial intelligence. The question of who has responsibility for these systems develops as they become more integrated into daily life. Proving guilt becomes complex, for example, when an AI program misinterprets financial data or renders a mistaken medical diagnosis. Ryan Calo, a law professor at the University of Washington School of Law, has become an essential leader in understanding the complexities of liability and accountability in AI. In an article by South Seattle Emerald, an overview of a panel of professors from the University of Washington, including Calo, discuss the legality of artificial intelligence. Calo argues that the lack of legislation surrounding liability is an ongoing concern about AI. He says, “Who takes responsibility when a self-driving car hits a pedestrian? The driver? Well, they weren’t driving. That’s the whole point of self-driving cars… So, is that the manufacturer of the car, the software developer, or the local authority that authorizes the car to be on the road? We don’t have that framework.” Calo believes that more legislation is needed for modern AI. The law must point out who may be liable for any incidents due to AI.
Intellectual Property Rights in AI-generated Content
There are special opportunities and obstacles when entering the world of intellectual property rights in work created by AI. AI systems are getting better at producing creative pieces of art, music, and literature on their own. Determining who owns these works and whether they are protected by copyright presents various difficult legal issues. The issues posed by artificial intelligence on intellectual property rights are being actively researched by organizations like the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In the age of artificial intelligence, WIPO’s discussions revolve around finding a balance between encouraging innovation and creativity and defending the rights of creators. An article published by WIPO Magazine mentions that AI-generated works may be free from copyright in theory, as humans do not make them. Artificial intelligence is quite a recent technology, and as it continues to evolve rapidly, more concerns will grow, demanding more legislation and government frameworks.
Governance Frameworks
With the evolving use of Artificial Intelligence, international standards and governance frameworks play an important role in shaping AI’s development and ethical use globally. These standards and regulations would ensure that those using AI adhere to ethical practices, safety standards, and human rights considerations. As artificial intelligence keeps evolving more and more, bills and laws will be crucial to keeping up with the regulation of AI. Shortly, there will certainly be more frameworks for AI, and the government will understand that. A blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights created by The White House mentions five important principles in developing a bill, “You should be protected from unsafe or ineffective systems. You should not face discrimination by algorithms. You should be protected from abusive data practices. You should know that an automated system is being used and understand how and why it contributes to outcomes that impact you. You should be able to opt out, where appropriate, and have access to a person who can quickly consider and remedy problems you encounter.” It has been presented that the needs are there and need to be attended to before the growing use of AI will violate human rights. Although few frameworks exist, our government must work on them as soon as possible.
Bias and Fairness in AI Algorithms
People search the internet a lot and get quick results on their screens. An example of bias in AI algorithms is when a search engine algorithm is trained on historical data featuring content primarily from large, established websites. As a result, when one searches for information on a particular topic, the algorithm prioritizes information from these reputable sources and may create a bias towards well-established organizations and may make it harder for other smaller sources, newer and less-known websites won’t show up in search results, regardless of how good or relevant their information systems are. AI prioritizes results by geographic location as well as user data and preferences. When AI is programmed to perform efficiently, critical issues can be overlooked to ensure faster results for the user, ending up with greater bias. Balancing proper use of context and due diligence is where some lines can be established or drawn.
Privacy and Surveillance Implications
There are also serious problems with privacy and the implications of censorship regarding AI systems. For example, many websites, social media applications, and programs already collect user data. AI may be able to collect data across platforms faster and more sophisticated than just a website or social media application. Facial recognition technology has gained popularity recently and can be applied to AI technology. Spoofing attacks are AI algorithms that can detect fake (deep fake) images or videos to mimic real faces. Deep lies have been used to deceive themselves through facial recognition to get other people’s comments, as well as celebrities to create illegal media. Facial recognition AI software can bias and discriminate against certain demographic groups, such as people of color, and can target or discriminate against specific individuals or groups.
Autonomous Weapons and Lethal Artificial Intelligence
Weaponizing AI could also have serious ethical consequences. A prime example of this can be seen in the science fiction film series The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, as AI goes rogue and attempts to wipe out humanity. Autonomous weapon systems without direct human control raise concerns about whether computers should ever make life-or-death decisions. Who is responsible or accountable for those decisions if they don’t work out? Autonomous weapon systems can also make mistakes or malfunction, resulting in unintended damage or injury. The complexity of AI systems and their unpredictability in real-world situations raises the question of whether we can trust AI with such power. AI algorithms are not human and do not have the same ethical and moral reasoning power as humans. AI can also cause an arms race like the nuclear arms race during the Cold War. Developing a strategic arms race could trigger an arms race between nations, pose a global security threat, and undermine international relations. Solving the problems of strategic weapons and lethal AI requires a comprehensive and comprehensive approach. This includes global cooperation in developing laws and agreements on their development and implementation. In addition, strong ethics policies, transparency designs, and accountability measures must be developed to ensure obedience to human rights and humanitarian principles.
Job Displacement and Automation Anxiety
Artificial Intelligence systems have many socio-economic consequences, affecting societal and economic aspects. AI automation can lead to the displacement of jobs in factories, especially those involving repetitive tasks. Employees in jobs like manufacturing, retail, transportation, and customer service may be replaced by AI as companies realize that AI can do it for them without having to pay for it. When the demand for skilled workers can be utilized, companies have to hire skilled humans in AI that understand data analysis and programming. This shift in demand can lead to unemployment or underemployment as these workers lack training or education in these areas. This raises concerns as people worry that they may be replaced and unable to keep up with emerging AI technologies. This creates a vast economic gap between highly skilled workers and low-skilled workers who do not have enough skills to find employment.
Economic Inequality Exacerbation
Growing economic inequality can impede social progress and lead to intergenerational poverty. Limited access to education, training, and income opportunities can restrict the upward mobility of individuals from low-skilled backgrounds, reinforcing existing socioeconomic disparities. This creates a vicious cycle with independent labor and highly skilled workers holding advantages for themselves and their families for generations while highly experienced workers lose economically. Efforts to promote inclusive growth, improve access to opportunities, and build social security are essential to address rising inequality’s social and economic consequences. Policy building their vision to reduce disparities in education, income, wealth, and technological know-how can help build greater AI innovation benefits shared more equitably across society.
Implications for Developing Countries
AI’s social and economic implications in developing countries can be significant and complex. AI has the potential to drive economic growth in already developed countries by increasing productivity and creating new jobs and new business opportunities. However, the lack of technology, infrastructure, capital, and government infrastructure in developing countries leads to deep divisions between developed and developing countries. Developing countries may not struggle to develop the skills and abilities needed to harness the power of AI effectively. Developing countries must invest in education, job training, and continuing education programs to equip workers with the necessary skills to harness AI systems capabilities. The digital divide between developed countries and countries that the developing network may expand as AI becomes more advanced. Overall, the social and economic implications of AI impacts in developing countries are complex, requiring concerted efforts by governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations to mitigate potential risks and maximize the benefits of AI.
Final Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence
In conclusion, the controversies surrounding Artificial Intelligence are complex and require consideration from various perspectives. From legal and regulatory challenges to ethical concerns and socio-economic impacts, the discourse surrounding AI is vast and evolving. The growing implementation of AI creates a sense of urgency in understanding and addressing such controversies. Addressing the challenges of privacy concerns, the implications of autonomous weapons, job displacement, economic inequality, and the impact of developing countries. Requires the collaboration of lawmakers, technology corporations, scholars, and modern society to create frameworks that promote responsible AI development and eliminate possible risks. As AI continues to evolve, we must understand these controversies to ensure that AI will benefit humanity and follow ethical principles and human rights. Only then can we wield AI’s powerful and amazing potential while removing potential risks and shortcomings.