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AI Isn't Scary!: Here's Why It's Changing Our Lives for the Better

June 3, 2024 Roberto Magalhães

There is a lot of fear around AI. But while there are some consequences of technology, overall, it is improving our work and our lives.

Coined by Isaac Asimov, the term “ Frankenstein Complex ” describes technology emerging and rebelling against its human creators in dangerous ways. This is the entire philosophy behind successful books and films like 2001: A Space Odyssey , The Machine and Blade Runner —all depictions of artificial intelligence (AI) going rogue. Meanwhile, sentient AI takes center stage IA and Her along with many other works.

We have been conditioned as a society to fear change. We worry about losing control, even in the face of exciting innovations. And that's what AI should be: exciting!

In fact, innovation is the core of our advancement. Yes, as human beings, we believe we are at the top of the chain and therefore we worry that our own creations may become more powerful than us. It's scary.

A recent survey from Monmouth University found that only 9% of Americans think AI-based machines will do more good than harm. Why is the perception of AI so negative?

Fear is real, but reality is not. AI is not scary!

Why You Shouldn't Fear AI

1. All innovations throughout history have affected the world

To say that technology is advancing at a rapid pace is the understatement of the century – or rather, the history of the world. Over time, we have gained knowledge and made exciting discoveries and inventions. Not all innovation has proven to be positive for humanity but many important things – the computer itself, for example – have changed our world for the better.

And many of these innovations were initially met with skepticism. Did you know that the first person to use an umbrella was publicly ridiculed ? That's right: when Englishman Jonas Hanway started carrying an umbrella in the London rain, people scoffed.

Of course, you're probably thinking that AI has much bigger implications than umbrellas – and rightly so. But the umbrella joke is meant to underline the point that resistance to new and seemingly crazy ideas is nothing new. People care about change. It's scary for them. But that doesn't mean they don't have merit. This has been true throughout history, from the light bulb to the computer and, yes, artificial intelligence.

2. AI is not sentient

Let's say it again: AI is. No. Self-conscious.

He does not think and feel on his own. Unrealistic media, like the movies and books we mentioned above, have perpetuated the idea that AI can create sentient, thinking machines – machines that will rebel against their creators. But that's just not real.

Yes, AI can learn . This is the entire philosophy behind the concept of machine learning, a subfield of AI that is the power that powers entities like speech recognition and predictive analytics. But just because it's learning doesn't mean it's feeling.

The real idea is that AI can perform automated, repeated tasks and, in some cases, learn and become more intelligent and sophisticated through this repetition as it gains data and experience. But this is not the same as thinking.

Sure, innovations like OpenAI's ChatGPT have made waves for behaving like thinking entities, but does anyone really believe that the answers these tools give and the writing they produce are the result of sentient beings? They are not. Because the AI doesn't feel.

3. AI makes work easier, safer and more efficient

There is a constant fear that AI will take over human jobs. To be fair, this is one of the more realistic items on this list, much more so than AI taking over the world and rebelling against humans.

But this will not make our roles obsolete. In fact, it has already proven effective in making many jobs easier, safer and more efficient.

Many of our jobs are too complex and sensitive to be left in the hands of a machine. But machines can help us do our jobs more effectively. In healthcare, it can make patient check-in more efficient using facial recognition software powered by machine learning and aids in diagnosis, leading to more accurate diagnoses. But it cannot replace a doctor.

In manufacturing, it can perform functions that pose risks to humans, making work safer. In human resources (HR), it can analyze resumes and select viable candidates based on specific criteria, saving time for human experts.

At its best, AI works in partnership with humans, helping us do our jobs better.

4. AI creates jobs

We recognize that AI could threaten jobs, especially those that may be fully automated at some point. However, it is also important to keep in mind that AI can also create jobs. The World Economic Forum suggests that automation could displace 85 million jobs while creating 97 million jobs.

In other words, there is a lot of potential in the world of work thanks to AI. No, it's not an entirely rosy picture: people will need to acquire new skills and competencies to take advantage of these new roles and opportunities. But qualification is always critical in the world of work. From the beginning, people need to learn more to develop professionally and grow in their careers. AI and related tools and technologies are simply where learning needs to take place now.

And there are many positive effects of this. We are able to reach new heights and innovate more effectively due to the knowledge we will acquire. There are infinite possibilities. People can explore untapped potential and talents. And we can create things beyond our imagination.

5. Humans created AI

Dr. Frankenstein created a monster. But he wasn't real – he was a character in a book.

The technology that scientists and engineers create is man-made. And they didn't program him to become all-powerful – that's just not possible. The fact is that AI cannot become an omniscient and all-powerful entity. Yes, humanity's creations have sometimes proven to be extremely deadly and dangerous. But humans still control them. They are responsible for the strength they possess.

Fears about AI gaining power over humans are unfounded. That's not how we created it. No, we can't predict every possible outcome, but we can predict what the things we do will do.

6. There is no single authority responsible for AI

No one person, group or organization is responsible for AI. It belongs to all of us. This means that no corrupt individual or entity can take control of all the AI in the world to wreak havoc on society.

Of course there is a devil's advocate argument here. Without a single authority governing AI, couldn't it get out of control? Who will control it? We’ll address this below – the lack of governance can be worrying – but as we’ve already discussed, the idea of AI going rogue has been greatly exaggerated in the media. While there are some steps we should take to better govern AI, that doesn't mean it will act on its own without human authorization.

7. AI can increase creativity

There has been a lot of talk about AI entering the creative realm . We see it in art, music, writing, and more. Is this a good thing?

Let's consider ChatGPT. While this tool can certainly help with writing, it certainly doesn't exist in terms of producing complete, well-written “human” articles. And it can be useful in helping writers hone their craft.

HackerNoon surveyed its community about whether they use AI in their writing workflows. And 86% said they would be open to the idea of leveraging AI writing tools in their work.

Meanwhile, the first AI art gallery in the world recently opened in Amsterdam. Dead End Gallery features AI-created works such as interactive installations, digital paintings, and other art powered by algorithms and digital tools.

There is some controversy surrounding this and other artistic AI efforts . But it's certainly also sparking discussions about the place of technology in the art world and in creating new things.

8. AI is all around us

The fact is, you use AI all the time — in some cases, without even knowing it. And you are probably benefiting and enjoying it.

The recommendation engines that generate suggestions on Netflix, Amazon and other entertainment platforms are powered by AI. Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant exist thanks to technology. Chatbots on websites that answer all our questions? This is also because of AI.

You might not think of these and other innovations – tools you use at work and in your personal life every day – as a result of AI, but they are. And they are making your life better. So why should you fear what lies behind them? Simply put, you shouldn't! AI is all around us and that's great, not scary.

Is AI always dangerous?

It would be incorrect and irresponsible to pretend that there is no problem with AI. This simply is not true. There are certainly problems with AI, just as there are with any technology or invention. But they are not as catastrophic as we might initially believe, and there are many ways to tackle them.

Let's turn our attention to Microsoft's Bing Chat. Recently, the tool that was supposed to be Microsoft's answer to ChatGPT made headlines for its strange and even aggressive responses to questions posed by humans to the chatbot.

But here's the thing: Bing Chat has some flaws and that's why it's simply not ready for public release. No one is pretending that all AI-powered tools are, in fact, ready for the masses to use. They need to be improved and improved. And clearly, this is an example of that. But will anyone really follow Bing Chat's half-hearted advice to leave their partner? No, that would be crazy.

There is also the fact that it can contribute to the spread of misinformation . And certainly, this is possible. But consider that many of our most world-changing innovations do the same. No one is suggesting we get rid of the internet, are they? As with any tool, there are ways to misuse it.

And then there is the issue of security. AI is a powerful tool, but it can be a double-edged sword. For example, thanks to innovations like ChatGPT, phishing can become even more cunning and persuasive. And with access to more and more data, the implications of cybercrime are greater in terms of scope and level of concern.

What does this mean in terms of our relationship with AI? We need to impose a more rigorous set of guidelines and governance structures. This is one of the main philosophies and logics behind the concept of ethical AI . But this isn't because of the idea that AI will take over the world – it's more because, as with any technology, we must impose rules to ensure we are using it responsibly. And we have rules in place for all kinds of things we do, from collecting data to riding the subway.

Ultimately, AI shouldn't be something we fear. Instead, let's think about how we can improve it and make it an even more accessible tool, helping it reach its full potential.

If you liked this, be sure to check out our other articles on AI.