The world is shifting towards greater automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a significant player alongside humans as producers, creators, and workers. Not too long ago, AI existed only in people’s minds; now, it is becoming one of the most prominent trends poised to change the way we think and live.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
It is hard to believe that someone could not understand the meaning of artificial intelligence in current times, as many AI tools and content generators, for instance, ChatGPT, are becoming more and more popular. However, according to Forbes, many AI users do not understand it. Forbes’s study reveals that 70% of consumers expressed fear of AI and 25% worry that AI will take over the world. Well, for now, AI is undoubtedly enhancing our life and work.
Nevertheless, for those who still do not understand what it means, there are plenty of artificial intelligence definitions that can be found and describe it as something similar to a robot or a digital computer. As per Britannica, artificial intelligence is the ability of a robot or digital computer to carry out duties usually performed by intelligent individuals. The phrase is widely used to refer to a project that involves creating computer programs that have the mental faculties that distinguish humans from other animals, including the capacity to reason, find meaning, make generalisations, and learn from past mistakes.
AI in Workplaces
AI is present in many industries, from automating repetitive and routine tasks to enhancing customer interaction. The current AI capabilities are, among others, virtual assistants, chatbots, cobots, personalised shopping, autonomous cars and much more. As per Gartner, 37% of businesses have used AI in some capacity, and the percentage of businesses using AI has increased by 270% in the last four years (2019 data).
According to insights from Next Move Strategy Consulting, the AI market is expected to grow from $95.60 billion in 2021 to $184.75 billion in 2030, and artificial intelligence robots are present in almost every sector, ranging from healthcare, retail, logistics, defence, banking, entertainment and manufacturing.
AI in Automation
AI plays a critical role in automation from the design phase through the manufacturing process. Without human assistance, robots and systems are allowed to carry out operations and make choices. Whereas Industry 4.0 was more concentrated on automating human labour in favour of machines, Industry 5.0 places more emphasis on the collaborative employment of humans and robots. Thanks to advancements in AI technology, the concept of human-AI cooperation is becoming more and more common in the fifth industrial revolution.
Key roles that AI plays in automation:
- Process automation – AI can be used in a number of industries, such as document processing, data input, and industrial quality control, to automate repetitive, rule-based processes.
- Predictive maintenance – AI analyses sensor data to forecast equipment breakdowns, allowing for more economical maintenance scheduling and less downtime.
- Chatbots and virtual assistants – powered by AI, chatbots and virtual assistants can manage standard customer care duties like order monitoring and appointment booking in addition to routinely responding to frequently requested queries.
- Autonomous vehicles – AI is essential to the automation of drones and self-driving cars. By analysing sensor data, machine learning algorithms make decisions about driving in real-time, improving efficiency and safety.
- Supply chain optimization – by anticipating demand, maximising inventory levels, and automating logistics and transportation administration, AI can improve supply chain operations.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) – NLP powered by AI makes it possible to automate language and text-related processes. This covers sentiment analysis, content creation, and automated language translation.
- Cyber security – AI can automate tasks like threat detection and prevention. To increase network security, it can automate behaviour and security analysis.
- AI in healthcare – AI reduces manual labour and improves healthcare results by being used for tasks like medication research, patient data management, and medical picture analysis.
- Smart home and IoT automation – AI-powered devices and systems have the ability to automate many areas of daily living, including lighting, security systems, and thermostat management, all based on human preferences and sensor data.
Generative AI
Another emerging trend stemming from AI and gaining widespread use and development is generative AI. Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of generating new content, such as images, text, audio, or other types of data. Through automating human tasks, customer interactions, and employee experiences, generative AI transforms content creation, discovery, authenticity, and regulatory compliance. Thereby, generative AI has a significant impact on business with innovations like cloud-based AI services, machine learning (ML), computed vision, Edge AI Operational AI Systems (OAISys), Model Operationalisation (ModelOps) and autonomic systems, like self-managed software and more.
The incorporation of AI can be done through Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), a type of machine learning framework consisting of two neural networks, a generator and a discriminator, trained simultaneously through adversarial training.
On the one hand, generative AI opens up remarkable capabilities in producing high-quality content and enhancing business operations, but on the other hand, it raises ethical concerns, particularly in the area of deep fakes (manipulated media that appears authentic).
AI and the Ethical Dilemma
The ethical side of AI is a subject of significant concern and debate. A lot of organisations, researchers and institutes study the impact of AI. The studies analyse job displacement, privacy, autonomous weapons, security, data ethics and impact on humans.
Addressing these dilemmas requires collaboration between scientists, government decision-makers, business executives, and the general public. Regulation, oversight, and ethical frameworks and guidelines are being developed to make sure AI technologies are developed and used in ways that minimise potential harm and are consistent with human values. The future of AI is being shaped by this continuing and changing dialogue.
What AI says
Here is an AI answer to a question about what it thinks about AI being the main reason for replacing humans in workplaces and in order to surpass many tasks.
ChatGPT’s response:
I don’t have personal opinions or feelings, but I can provide you with some information on the topic.
The question of whether AI will replace humans in the workplace is a complex and evolving one. AI and automation have the potential to greatly enhance productivity and efficiency in many industries, but they also raise concerns about job displacement and economic disruption. Here are some key points to consider:
- Automation and AI can enhance productivity: AI technologies can handle routine and repetitive tasks with high accuracy, freeing up human workers to focus on more creative, strategic, and complex tasks. This can lead to increased efficiency and productivity in many industries.
- Job displacement is a concern: While AI can create new job opportunities in fields like data science, machine learning, and AI development, there is a risk of job displacement in industries heavily reliant on routine tasks, such as manufacturing, customer service, and data entry.
- Skill retraining is essential: To adapt to a changing job market, there’s a growing need for reskilling and upskilling the workforce. Preparing workers to work alongside AI and automation, or in roles that require higher-level skills in managing or developing AI systems, is crucial.
- Augmentation vs. replacement: In many cases, AI is not meant to replace humans entirely but to augment their capabilities. Humans and AI can work together in a complementary manner, with AI handling repetitive tasks and humans providing critical thinking and creativity.
- Ethical and social considerations: The widespread adoption of AI in the workplace raises ethical questions about privacy, bias, and transparency. It also requires careful consideration of how to ensure a fair distribution of benefits and potential job displacement.
- Job creation through AI development: The development, implementation, and maintenance of AI systems can create new job opportunities. AI is a rapidly growing field, and it demands a skilled workforce.
- The pace of change: The rate at which AI technologies are adopted and integrated into the workplace can vary by industry and region. Policymakers and organisations need to adapt to these changes and consider the broader implications.
In conclusion, AI’s impact on the workplace is multifaceted. While it has the potential to replace certain tasks and jobs, it also offers opportunities for augmentation and new job creation. Successfully navigating this transition will require a combination of careful planning, investment in education and training, and thoughtful consideration of the ethical and social implications of AI in the workplace.
As AI tools rely on data from previous answers and various sources, they provide comprehensive answers that illustrate both sides of the AI debate: the potential displacement of human roles and the enhancement of work and life through human-AI collaboration. Additionally, they highlight the emergence of new job opportunities within the IT sector compared to the past. Let’s compare this outlook with expert opinions.
What Experts say
A report by Goldman Sachs, a multinational financial services and investment bank based in the United States, estimates that AI could replace about 300 million jobs globally by 2030 but may also mean new jobs and increased productivity. This is a similar statement to what AI predicts itself.
Additionally, Pew Research Centre experts are concerned about the general well-being of individuals and society. However, they additionally anticipate significant gains in education, science, and healthcare.
In May 2023, Reuters reported that top AI CEOs, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, along with experts, professors, and executives from companies like Microsoft and Google, signed a letter emphasising the ‘risk of AI-induced extinction’. They urged lawmakers to treat this risk on par with nuclear war and pandemics. The letter, signed by over 350 individuals, was published by The Center for AI Safety (CAIS), a San Francisco-based research nonprofit, emphasising the need for global prioritisation of mitigating AI-related extinction risks.
What Society thinks
According to the Ipsos survey for the World Economic Forum from 2022, in the next three to five years, 60% of adults worldwide anticipate that AI-powered goods and services will significantly alter their daily lives. Furthermore, although 60% of people responded that products and services using artificial intelligence make their lives easier, 39% responded that AI products and services make them nervous.
At the national level, compared to 54% of the unemployed, 72% of employed decision-makers believe AI will change their lives in the next few years. China and Saudi Arabia are the most optimistic about the impact of AI (80%), while only half have the same outlook in the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, and Great Britain.
According to the Ipsos data, AI is predicted to have an impact on many sectors, including employment for people 35 to 49 years old, safety for senior citizens, education for those under 35 and highly educated, as well as shopping, travel, and entertainment for the wealthy. Whereas the Chinese concentrate on shopping, transportation, entertainment, and the home, Latin Americans expect changes in employment, safety, and education. France and Japan have low hopes for AI in education.
Is AI a Real Threat?
Below, you’ll find a keyword research analysis focused on AI across several regions, including the UK, US, and European cities. Have a look at some of the most often searched terms that people look for on Google:
- Can AI take over the world
- Can AI read your mind
- Can AI becomes self aware
- Why AI will save the world
- Will AI take my job
- Will AI replace human intelligence
- Will AI take over humanity
Some people are concerned about this new technology, but when we look into the past, most innovations sparked some level of concern. In the early 1900s, when the first automobiles were introduced, people worried about their safety and impact on society because of accidents and speeding. A few years later, radio raised concerns about the potential mass propaganda. It may seem absurd to some today as we are in a much more advanced world but In the 70s, people were scared of the radiation effect of microwaves when they first came into the market. Also, the internet brought about various concerns and debates surrounding its impact, and its adoption transformed almost every aspect of modern life.
Conclusion
There will always be some concern involved with change. By looking into the past, it is possible to notice that without new advances, we wouldn’t be able to progress. Artificial intelligence is just another innovation for our current times (and the future) that will bring some concerns but it will also benefit many important sectors.
Therefore, the transition towards a reality where we all co-work with some kind of digital computer that imitates natural human-like communication is not avoidable, but as the world progresses, it can open up unimaginable realms of opportunities.
