Anything that can save money for a business will happen. And anything that can be broken into sets of instructions can be done by a machine. As machines become exponentially more capable in the narrow manipulation of intellectual and physical property, it follows that anything that can be broken into sets of instructions and saves money (with no value lost) will be automated. Venture Beat
This opening quote seems an accurate justification for the inevitable expansion of "AI." A previous blog Part 1 discussed the difference between intelligence and intellect. The choice of terms for AI from here on will be left to the reader. Since AI is a man-made tool, it can be used for good or nefarious purposes not unlike the discovery of fire. This discussion aims to inform citizens of some (certainly not all) examples of the dual nature of AI.
Complex Systems
Oversight of complex systems such as transportation (air, sea and land), drug development, the energy grid, finance, etc. has reached a stage where just maintaining current levels of performance necessitates AI. Optimizing these systems for even further demands will depend upon the STEM community to develop even more robust AI routines to determine weak/chokepoints that can be eliminated.
Large complex systems are also inviting targets for adversarial AI. China has already been found probing our infrastructure systems and government databases. The more sophisticated their AI routines become, the harder it is to detect their intent prior to prevention. Fortunately, for now, these large systems are decentralized for the most part and are not vulnerable to a single point of attack.
Medicine
Drug development has largely been dependent on molecular modeling via software in American pharmaceutical companies since the 1980s. Gene therapies have their origins in the Human Genome project and AI driven gene splicing/insertion methods developed over the last 20 years. Modern miracles have resulted but…
As we all experienced from early 2020 to the present, the miracle of modern medicine was turned upside down with the implementation of viral gain of function. Thus was COVID 19 unleashed on the world. Without AI driven gene splicing and insertion techniques this plague would not have been born.
Manufacturing
The products we use as a modern society come almost exclusively from large assembly/packaging facilities. As competition becomes keener between corporations the drive for inventory management has become critical. Too much inventory and cash is locked up. Too little inventory and orders are delayed or cancelled. A robust AI inventory management system is crucial.
The advent of inventory management, automated assembly/packaging lines and, in the near future, robotic/drone deliveries will drastically change the manufacturing workforce. This will drive a nationwide discussion over allocation of human resources.
Energy
One of the more exciting applications of AI is for nuclear fusion electrical generation. Nuclear fusion is the Holy Grail of power systems. Non-radioactive with an unlimited fuel source (seawater), fusion solves the arguments between climate changers and challengers. However, in order to sustain the fusion reaction it must be magnetically contained. This has proven to be elusive. AI has the potential to rapidly analyze previous designs and propose more robust containment structures prior to actual construction and bring about a truly revolutionary development.
Unfortunately, the energy grid is one of the most important systems targeted by foreign AI hackers. China, in particular, has been aggressively invading our energy grid systems. We ignore this provocation at our national peril.
Law Enforcement
Post 9/11 saw a swift and broad expansion of government surveillance via the Patriot Act. In order to collect, scan and analyze millions of emails, texts, phone conversations, etc. the computing power of AI systems became essential. In exchange for monitoring and intercepting bad actors the government has illegally spied on its own innocent citizenry.
Political speech, spending patterns, bank records and much more are all being swept up in the name of “national security”. It is safe to say that our civil rights are being hijacked by nefarious use of AI by our own government.
This is not to say that AI is only a negative tool for law enforcement. Forensic analyses of DNA, fingerprints, and criminal database networking are just a few of the applications that AI has the potential to revolutionize by making data available on an almost instant basis.
Entertainment
The movie and gaming industries have driven the perception of AI superseding the need for humans. The accelerating use of computer generated imagery (CGI) in modern movies and TV shows has brought lost or imaginary places and things to the video screen. Video games strive for non-playable characters (NPCs) to exhibit humanlike behavior.
In both industries AI makes the viewer/player experience more realistic from a visual and/or interactive perspective. However, AI raises fears that movies will become entirely digital productions. In the gaming realm the concern is the player will be unable to compete against a “super intellect”.
Will AI ever be able to create new personalities with “presence”? How do you program “presence”? AI will be unable to compete with a quality that cannot be defined. Likewise, games that rely solely on quick responses to a narrow set of circumstances will not find a home on gamers’ computers or consoles.
Politics
AI has massive potential for misuse when considering political messaging. Whether generating phony videos of a candidate through voice and CGI, online bots or just combing through decades of statements and stitching them together for an out of context hit piece, AI’s potential for harm is alarming. Vetting the accuracy of any piece has always fallen to the media. Alas, in our current environment, we would do well to doubt any negative messaging by either party.
Finance
Tracking, projecting, reporting, allocating and much more are all part of the massive data sets we call our financial system. Much of this data is extremely time sensitive (think stock and currency trades). AI is particularly well suited for enhancing speed, strengthening security and providing users with real time data for wealth generation/protection.
Adversarial nations will use AI to probe and damage the US financial system. As noted earlier, China has already been observed hacking into banking and government databases. This will only increase with time. Good data management practices have blunted most of their attempts to date but nefarious AI may overcome our best efforts if we do not begin vigorous development of AI in defense of our national wealth.
Convention of States
COSA promotes independent and analytical thought. AI is a complex discussion but one that can be addressed by civil discourse between the citizenry, industry and government. Open a dialogue with your local and state officials to discuss concerns you may have regarding the inevitable expansion of artificial “intellect”. Since this is new territory for all of us please be clear, reasonable and always respectful.
