AI's Dual Nature: A Potential Force for Progress or Destruction, Experts Say

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s artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, experts highlight the dichotomy of its potential impacts, drawing parallels between AI and the historical impact of nuclear technology. Emre Onur Kahya, Head of the Physics Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University (ITU), expressed that AI, like a nuclear bomb, can bring about both destructive and constructive outcomes.

Kahya emphasized the versatility of AI, explaining that it possesses the ability to perform various tasks typically executed by humans. He drew an analogy to the nuclear bomb, stating, “Just as the atomic bomb brought about devastating destruction, it also propelled advancements in nuclear physics, such as MR.”

AI’s potential applications span various fields, with Kahya pointing out potential positive impacts in health, education, and law. In the legal sector, AI could reduce the workload for judges and prosecutors, while in healthcare, it could aid doctors in diagnoses and cell differentiation in medical imaging.

AI literacy

Despite recognizing AI’s constructive potential, Kahya cautioned about its potential for destructive effects, particularly in the arms industry. He stressed the importance of considering undesired outcomes and questioned the autonomy of AI decision-making, prompting ongoing debates within the scientific community about the need to slow down AI development.

Addressing the concern of unemployment due to AI automation, Kahya urged for AI literacy to be integrated into educational curricula, emphasizing its importance in engineering disciplines. He highlighted the need for collaboration between the government, academia, and the private sector to navigate the transformative impact of AI on the job market.

Nazım Kemal Ure from the ITU Artificial Intelligence Department added insights, defining AI as the “automation of computation.” Ure outlined significant impacts on sectors such as defense and transportation, foreseeing an increase in the capabilities of unmanned vehicles.

US and China AI policies

While recognizing leading roles of countries like the U.S. and China in AI development, Ure commended Turkey’s significant progress in the past three years. He acknowledged that AI has both positive and negative aspects, stating, “Rather than fearing unemployment, we should anticipate a transformation in our work processes, necessitating the learning of new skills.”

Both experts urged proactive measures in preparing for AI’s transformative impact, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration and self-improvement to address potential disparities between technologically advanced and lagging countries.

Source: Anadolu Agency