In this assignment, I’m going to reflect on Nick Hall’s assignment #12 Speculative Futures. I totally enjoy the short story Nick created, of having two different scenarios showcase how the character interacts with AI technologies and what the experience is like. I have to admit that Nick captures both stories quite well, especially demonstrating the utopian and dystopian Artificial Intelligence (AI) experience.
Although I’m a little doubtful about what capacity AI assistants may develop in the next 30 years. In Nick’s story, AI assistants can manage reminders, organize schedules, and prepare simple meals. I have always trusted in technology that it will grow and develop even further, but I’m hesitant to believe that AI assistants can completely replace human intelligence, eg. a chef cooks for a Michelin-starred meal, or an artist creates a beautiful artwork with creativity and aesthetics. So as Dr. Shannon Vallor (2018) says “AI will not replace human-mind anytime soon.”
In my opinion, AI technologies are created to serve human beings, not to replace us, not to take away jobs, not to deprive the pleasure of doing things, such as cooking or walking the dog. You may have a different perception which I totally understand, but personally speaking, I truly value interpersonal connections and the relationships we built. That is one thing technologies cannot replace or should not replace.
In the next 30 years, I can imagine myself being reluctant and awkward to try advanced technologies, sort of like the mom-and-dad generation find it difficult to keep up with the latest technologies and trends. So when Mark Zuckerberg renamed Facebook to Meta and intended to launch a 3D virtual metaverse. My initial response was “I haven’t even fully figured out world-wide-web, now metaverse?! what the heck is? I’m not interested or need this.”
What kind of potential issues will AI technologies bring? For one, it may deprive jobs of low-skilled workers. AI technologies have replaced many repetitive and tedious machine work, such as assembly line workers. It’s inevitable that our society will continue to grow, so as technologies. And people have to be adaptable and accept those technological changes. My point is, while AI keeps developing and improving, governments and authorities need to play an active role in mediating the balance of using AI technologies. On top of that, one should always remember to guard the ethical future of AI.
Reference
Santa Clara University. (2018). Lessons from the AI Mirror Shannon Vallor.
