Chapter 14The Future of Society, Work, and AI
The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.
Professor Stephen Hawking, professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge
In 2014, the late Stephen Hawking made the above statement in a BBC News interview.1 This somewhat terrifying quote is often thought to refer to things such as AI-enabled robots that could eventually take over the world. However, what many do not realize is what Hawking said next. “I am an optimist, and I believe that we can create AI for the good of the world,” he went on. “That it can work in harmony with us. We simply need to be aware of the dangers, identify them, employ the best possible practice and management, and prepare for its consequences well in advance.”
AI has the potential to improve the quality of life of everyone on the planet, raising our income levels, and helping us to live longer and healthier. It has been estimated that over 90% of all customer interactions with businesses are likely to utilize AI in some fashion in the future. Using AI, people will be able to customize the products and services they need in areas that range from banking to healthcare. AI technology will likely be deployed extensively in government agencies and legal systems around the world. AI scientists will continue to develop more sophisticated software to enable vehicles to be autonomously controlled, and AI-controlled robots and other devices will continue to grow ...
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