NWI 001: Understanding the moral and social implications of AGI

The famous physicist Albert Einstein once said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”.

There were little to no conversations about artificial general intelligence when this quote was said. But in the world today, individuals, industries, and corporations are intently observing the boom of a kind of AI that overwhelmingly surpasses human intelligence, a type of intelligence that incorporates human emotion, reasoning, perception, learning, etc. Though it may sound unfounded, many experts think it could happen while we are still alive.

Most people in the world today have heard and interacted with some form of artificial intelligence, we have read tons of books, lectures, research, and podcasts about AI and we have experienced and may even use AI in our daily lives. If you say “Hey Siri” and get a response and an action on your request then congratulations, you use AI!

In recent times, however, researchers and scientists have concluded that the current intelligence we use can be improved to include a human touch. There is a general understanding that what we use and experience today called machine intelligence can be expanded on using advanced mathematical computation and the current technological progress that is being made across the world.

Imagine a computer system that is as smart and capable as a human being, one that can understand, empathize, learn, and present solutions in any field, this is what is meant by artificial general intelligence (AGI). AGI could handle tasks from diagnosing diseases to creating art or even writing books, just like humans. Its seriousness comes from its potential to transform industries, solve complex global issues, and impact every aspect of our lives. To put it into a little more context, an AGI is capable of managing an entire city’s infrastructure without the help of humans. It can analyze and process massive amounts of data at lightning speed and simultaneously manage traffic lights, public transportation, energy grids, waste management, and emergency services. It would constantly analyze data from millions of sensors throughout the city’s infrastructure to ensure everything runs smoothly, efficiently, and sustainably. No human, or even a team of humans, could manage such a complex, real-time system with the same level of precision and efficiency that this system will.

As helpful as AGI poses for humanity, it also raises concerns about control, ethics, and the future of jobs, making it a topic of significant importance and debate among experts. The adoption of AGI could lead to widespread job displacement, one of the main concerns regarding the use of AGI, and this raises questions about economic inequality, the future of work, and how the government can support displaced workers. Also, entities (technology companies, government agencies, the military) that control AGI systems can gain unprecedented power that can be used for surveillance or manipulation that may be harmful to humanity and society.

Accountability levels in system or product development will take a hit if wholly outsourced to AGI systems - biased decisions or errors may be difficult to track and fix. More issues surrounding existential risks, privacy, access, human identity, and ethical programming can pose more risks socially.

Addressing these moral and social implications requires thoughtful consideration, inclusive dialogue, and proactive governance to ensure AGI serves the common good and aligns with human values.