SOME tech titans paint a terrifying picture of a future where computers rise up to destroy us like something out of sci-fi movie The Terminator.
But that post-apocalyptic nightmare is an artificial vision.
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Many other voices are emerging to reassure us that robots are NOT about to take over the world.
Rather than stealing our jobs or turning our weapons on humankind, improvements in artificial intelligence are in fact more likely to eradicate drudgery and help save lives.
In March, more than 1,000 tech boffins called for a six-month pause on the training of the most powerful AI systems due to “profound risks to society and humanity”.
Shortly afterwards, Britain’s pioneering AI developer Geoffrey Hinton resigned from his post at Google to highlight the dangers.
Critics say those calling for a delay may be fearful they are falling behind in the new arms race.
Dr Alex Karp, boss of AI firm Palantir, told the BBC: “Many people asking for a pause are asking for a pause because they have no product.”
Those who do have a product can certainly see the benefits.
Another “godfather of AI”, Professor Yann LeCun, of Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, defended increasing computing power.
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And billionaire tech entrepreneur Marc Andreessen, who co-founded the Netscape web browser, believes rather than destroy us, AI advisers may even save lives during warfare.
Good mimics
He adds: “AI is a computer programme like any other.
“Its output is useful across fields from coding to medicine, law to the creative arts.
“It is owned by and controlled by people, like any other technology.”
Mr Andreessen insisted AI ISN’T killer software and robots ready to spring to life and “murder the human race or otherwise ruin everything”.
He adds: “A shorter description of what AI could be: A way to make everything we care about better.”
Cambridge Uni academic Dr Mansoor Ahmed-Rengers, founder of tech firm Open Origins, agrees Arnie Schwarzenegger’s killer cyborg in The Terminator is science fiction.
He says: “There are a lot of AI companies marketing to make us think we are closer than we are.
“But I don’t think computers will surpass us barely in my lifetime, and I’m 30.”
Even Mr Hinton wants research to continue because the potential benefits — include tackling climate change, curing fatal illnesses and providing better care for our ageing population — outweigh the risks.
Britain’s most famous mathematician, Dr Alan Turing, who played a key role in the early development of computers, created a theoretical definition of “artificial intelligence”.
The Turing Test stated a computer would have to be able to communicate in a way indistinguishable from a human, which it can currently only do in specific fields.
Kathleen Richardson, Professor of Ethics and Culture of Robots and AI at De Montfort University, Leicester, says: “Computers are good mimics, but they’re executing instructions.”
It is by focusing artificial intelligence’s incredible computing power on a single problem — such as detecting a certain type of cancer — that it will prove to be so beneficial.
We look at ways AI could change our world for the better . . .
MEDICINE
EVERY week there are fresh medical advances that would not have been possible without artificial intelligence software.
Mr Andreessen says: “Scientific breakthroughs and new technologies and medicines will dramatically expand as AI helps us further decode the laws of nature – and harvest them for our benefit.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also talked up the life-saving possibilities of AI.
He said: “You’ve seen that recently it was helping paralysed people to walk, discovering new antibiotics.”
Many cutting-edge ideas are coming from these shores.
A hi-tech scanner has been invented by UK company Digistain which will offer far more accurate breast cancer diagnosis.
Last week, Dr Bea Bakshi, co-founder of the UK cancer detection system C the Signs, revealed promising results of an AI system that spots the potentially fatal disease early.
She said: “We are creating a future where every patient can survive cancer using this AI prediction technology.”
Academics at the University of Bradford are now also using AI to improve the assessment of organs for donation.
JOBS
ONE big fear is that artificial intelligence will lead to mass unemployment, but Mr Andreessen thinks it will create more job opportunities as new industries form.
He says: “Productivity growth throughout the economy will accelerate dramatically, driving economic growth, creation of new industries, new jobs and wage growth – resulting in a new era of heightened material prosperity across the planet.”
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AI could free up staff involved with mundane tasks to do more rewarding ones.
Dr Ahmed-Rengers explains: “Anything that is boring in your current job, you can automate it.
“If you are a computer programmer you don’t want to spend your time writing code.”
Rather than the government spending a fortune on admin, they will be able to allocate available funds to hiring more cops or nurses.
Driverless vehicles will, undoubtedly, be bad news for cabbies or bus drivers.
But Ron Thaniel, senior director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Zoox, which put the first robotaxi on public roads this year, argues: “There will be the need to hire and train remote operators and individuals who can maintain and service the vehicles.”
EDUCATION
THERE are concerns students will use artificial intelligence to cheat – but many academics believe advanced software will raise educational standards.
Pupils can use programmes like ChatGPT – which allows human-like conversations with a chatbot and can write emails and essays – to point them in the direction of the info they need.
AI will also allow for more personalised teaching, providing lessons at the right level for specific students.
Programmes already exist to help teachers and lecturers identify plagiarism. These can be updated to tackle AI advances.
Professor Hassan Ugail, director of the Centre for Visual Computing at the University of Bradford, says: “I think AI will change lives for the better.
“When calculators came out, people were against students using them.
“It’s the same with ChatGPT. We should let students use it.”
ENVIRONMENT
ADVANCED algorithms are already helping make planes, cars, homes and power stations more energy efficient.
This week it was announced that a pilot project in Devon will use AI to reduce pollution in our waters by providing an early warning system.
One day, computers could be smart enough to prevent climate change.
David Levy, author of Robots Unlimited, says: “We’ve only scratched the surface of the possibilities so far.
“The ultimate aim of AI research is to produce what is called general AI, which is capable of solving pretty much any type of problem.
“So in the future we will be able to say to a general AI programme, ‘What are the best things to do in order to mitigate climate change?’.”
At the moment, computer programmes rely on information being entered by humans, which can lead to errors.
But in the future, hi-tech monitoring systems will provide far more accurate real-time data.
CARE
ONE of the greatest demands on society today is the need for carers to look after older people.
AI can help develop cures for debilitating conditions such as dementia and offer round-the-clock support.
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Mr Andreessen says: “AI medical chatbots are already more empathetic than their human counterparts.
“Rather than making the world harsher and more mechanistic, infinitely patient and sympathetic AI will make the world warmer and nicer.”
Ideas include generating virtual reality worlds so people who can’t leave home can still access physio and meet friends.
Prof Richardson says: “I am concerned people are not forming relationships as we spend more time in digital systems.
“But there are benefits to AI.
“A project we are working on called Share Space creates avatars.
“There are people living remotely who can’t attend physio clinics.
“We are trying to create virtual environments where they can still have these therapeutic interventions and feel the presence of people.”
THE ARTS
NOW that anyone can get their hands on artificial intelligence software, we have seen a host of convincing fakes – from a photo of the Pope in a puffer jacket to “new” music by Drake.
There are fears that this will kill creativity.
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But Mr Andreessen claims: “The creative arts will enter a golden age, as AI-augmented artists, musicians, writers and filmmakers gain the ability to realise their visions far faster and at greater scale than ever before.”
This week, Sir Paul McCartney told how he used super-smart software to “extricate” the late singer John Lennon’s vocals from a “ropey” old demo in order to create a new song by The Beatles.
And AI looks set to take filmmaking out of the hands of the super-rich.
Dr Ahmed-Rengers says: “At the moment you have to be Disney to make a massive CGI movie, but soon a team of ten might be able to produce CGI as good as from Hollywood.”
The academic is working towards developing a Made By Human stamp, similar to the Fair Trade one, which will tell consumers whether something was computer-generated or not.
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
AI will massively improve our personal lives, Mr Andreessen believes.
“Every child will have an AI tutor that is infinitely patient, infinitely compassionate, infinitely knowledgeable, infinitely helpful,” he writes.
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He said the virtual tutors would help “maximize their potential with the machine version of infinite love”, adding: “Every person will have an AI assistant/coach/mentor/trainer/advisor/therapist (for) all of life’s opportunities and challenges.
“Every scientist will have an AI assistant that’ll expand their research and achievement.
“Every artist, engineer, businessperson, doctor, caregiver will have the same.
“Every leader of people – CEO, government official, non-profit president, athletic coach, teacher – will have the same.
“The magnification effects of better decisions by leaders are enormous, so this intelligence augmentation may be the most important of all.”
