Elon and Zuck's Debate on AI's Impact PDF

ELON AND ZUCK’S DEBATE There is a growing debate about the impact that AI will have on our future, with the 2 tech luminaries -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook CEO Mark zuckerberg -- as figureheads representing the pros and cons, respectively. Last week Musk commented that AI is an “existential r...

ELON AND ZUCK’S DEBATE There is a growing debate about the impact that AI will have on our future, with the 2 tech luminaries -- Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook CEO Mark zuckerberg -- as figureheads representing the pros and cons, respectively. Last week Musk commented that AI is an “existential risk for human civilization. “ Zuckerberg retorted that such comments are “Pretty irresponsible, “ to which Musk tweeted that Zuckerberg’s “understanding of the subject is limited.” While these comments refer to sweeping impacts, many are debating that jobs are getting severely effected by AI. As humans, we watch for threats to survive. Jobs are linked to our survival. As they’re the way we ear our income and are able to satisfy our needs. However, many are predicting that with AI advent we will see the rise of a “useless class” --people who are unemployed and unemployable. This is a chilling view of the future. If the last century of incredible advances in digital technologies lead to the creation of a “useless class” who do nothing but play video- games all day, it’s a tragedy for civilization. if it happens we will look back at musk’s remarks and say “they were right”. But if that happens, Shame on us! Because we are in charge of our destiny, not AI. In particular, we in the tech industry have to shape the future of AI and robotics to create better and more productive jobs.we can Subdue AI to ensure that opportunity is more equally distributed around the country and the world, rather than concentrated in small pockets of urban wealth and opportunity. Investing energy in the vigilant watch over the future of work is wise because jobs will eventually change. However, buying into doom and gloom isn’t wise, in my opinion. There is time to shape our future and make it positive. Everyone has an obligation to ensure that people are ready for a future in which AI touches every aspect of work. But it’s up to us tech builders to ensure that tech augments workers not replace them. This is an area where Silicon Valley culture has fallen short, with it’s focus on cutting down labor costs. However, people in tech are starting to think differently about their obligations toward humanity, and to design their products accordingly. When it comes to dirty, dangerous and demeaning work, automation can save lives and increase human dignity. There are signs that this “fourth industrial revolution” will increase gross domestic product and productivity, just as the previous ones have done, and it could also increase the flexibility and geographic diversity of work. If this is what’s expected from AI, bring it on !. It’s true that technology has the power to eliminate jobs. In 1900, more than 40% of the population worked in agriculture, but by 2000, that was down to 2%, thanks to the efficiencies introduced by farming machines, as economist “David Autor” points out. Similarly self- driving vehicles may make millions of driving occupants jobless and needing to find new jobs. On the other hand, automation can increase jobs, the number of bank tellers have doubled in the U.S. since the introduction of the ATM. And while farm machinery decimated the market for agriculture jobs, the overall workforce in the U.S. has grew throughout the 20th century in every major transition to date we've wound up with more jobs. There is evidence that this is already happening. Non-farm private employment has risen for 87 months in a row and unemployment levels are at record lows, in a sign that internet technologies haven’t destroyed jobs. Meanwhile, in the past year, about one-third of U.S. companies have started using AI. In the future AI can help augment people’s work regardless of where they live. For instance, AI-enhanced medical diagnoses may bring the power of supercomputers and the world’s best doctors to local family doctors. AI-powered news algorithms can improve of world events and help fight rumors. AI Can increase the productivity of programmers wherever they live. One reason the last century resulted in so many new jobs is because of the early 20th century movement to extend mandatory schooling through high school, providing education for people who no longer had farm jobs. That decision ensured that we had millions of well-educated people ready to take on the jobs that the second half of the 20th century needed. We need to that now. Only this time, we need to jettison our outdated model of classroom education and embrace new approaches suited to our rapidly changing times. Individuals should position themselves for a lifetime of learning since the demands of the workplace are changing faster than ever. Traditional college degrees no longer lead to stable long-term employment opportunities training on new skills is more effective. Companies should be prepared to retrain people after replacing them with machines. And we need more educational partnerships that combine contributions from business and government. Yes, we need safety nets to help people through these transitions. But we also need to address the root causes. Those of us in tech need to guide it to augment people. And society as a whole needs to invest in education to be ready for new jobs we can’t imagine yet. If we do that we can ensure that AI will usher in an era of opportunity and wealth.