Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) pervasiveness has long been igniting a strong debate among tech experts. The most common cause of arguments is whether or not the rise of AI could destroy Humanity but the fact can’t be denied that it also has a promising potential to transform and revolutionize the world.

In recent years, advanced AI-driven platforms and systems have gradually changed our way of life. Automated innovations and digital assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, and self-driving vehicles are all controlled by an artificial intelligent-software that is created to “learn or problem solve” processes.

Economic force

Even though technology’s constant evolution could bring existential risks to humanity, artificial intelligence has become a massive “economic force” that spawned a billion-dollar industry, Futurism noted. In fact, both the finance and healthcare sectors are investing so much in the development of AI-driven systems.

As tech experts seek to develop the AI systems further, it becomes more sophisticated with extensive capabilities. With the promising technological advancements, it becomes a powerful force that makes a lot of people worry.

Destruction of humanity

In today’s digital era, AI is not just a product of science fiction. Thanks to its ubiquity and ever-evolving nature, tech leaders are investing more time and money on AI-operated systems.

But as it becomes a “meta-solution” to society's biggest issues, smarter artificial intelligence also becomes one of 21st century’s ominous threats.

According to bestselling author and historian Yuval Noah Harari, the rise of AI could create a “class of useless humans” and overtake them in the employment industry. Apart from making them aimless and jobless, Harari explained it could also outperform our physical and cognitive skills.

Harari’s thoughts were supported by theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who claimed that AI could end humanity and take over the world. Hawking said artificial intelligent-systems could “create unimaginable weapons and manipulate human leaders” easily.

Hawking added that humans won’t be able to compete and would be “superseded” by such technologies, all thanks to our “slow biological evolution.” Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also agrees with Harari and Hawking, saying AI is a “fundamental risk” to the human race and its superiority could lead to World War III.

Destabilization, unemployment, and war

The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), on the other hand, warned that the pervasiveness of AI and robotics could destabilize the world. That is why it will open the new Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in The Hague, Netherlands that will oversee and regulate AI developments.

The center will also determine the potential threats of automation. They will analyze whether or not the rise of autonomous robots could destabilize the world by waging war and mass unemployment, The Guardian noted.

But UNICRI senior strategic adviser Irakli Beridze revealed that the center will also explore the possibilities of using new technologies for UN’s “sustainable development goals.” Beridze stressed that they don’t want to “plead for a ban or brake on technologies.”

The United Nations, however, is not alone in the preparation for AI advancements.

China, Russia, Israel and the United States are also striving hard to develop “autonomous weapons technology.” But over 100 AI and robotics experts, including Musk, are urging the intergovernmental organization to “act against” its development as it would be a “Pandora’s Box” that could wage war.

Gates' thoughts

Meanwhile, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates seems to be unthreatened by the concerns surrounding AI development, especially in lethal weaponry. For Gates, he remains optimistic that the development of artificial intelligence will make human lives “more productive and creative," CNBC reported. Despite his optimism, Gates also stressed that “every new technology” comes with challenges that need to be addressed, and Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google Engineering SVP John Giannandrea agree with him.
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