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Should Mainers be concerned about artificial intelligence (AI)? The simple answer is yes. But why? Physicist Frank Wilczek provides us with a straightforward observation on why: ”What worries me is not so much artificial intelligence but natural stupidity.”
Mainers’ dilemma: Is it more efficient to have a hand-held electronic device provide you with all the knowledge you require at a moment’s notice, or is it better for personal development and survival to “think” on your own?
In reality, is it so cumbersome to think on your own? Probably, because thinking challenges ”one to go outside the box, connect the dots, study, ask relevant questions, possess doubts, rely on verifiable facts, be curious, have discussions with others, problem-solve, prognosticate, evaluate, utilize common sense — all of these tasks require time and dedication,” as I wrote in a column, “Trump: King of the Unthinking,” published on Oct. 24 in the Storm Lake Times Pilot in Iowa.
However, is AI all negative? No, but what are the real cost(s) to our future society? With AI, there will be a restructuring of the workforce with loss of employment for thousands of skilled workers. In addition, the tremendous amount of energy required to sustain AI data centers, and the water to cool such facilities, will be detrimental to local communities in which such centers are located.
In the end, Mainers and their lawmakers should carefully consider whether the advantages of AI outweigh the risks such technology may have on the future of our ability to process complex subjects on our own, without the need for a system which will do all the thinking for us.
John M. Mishler
Harpswell