Artificial intelligence takes us by surprise

W e stand at one of the most pivotal moments in human history, at the crossroads of innovation, where the fabric of our lives and our future will change. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is like navigating uncharted oceans, where the horizons of human capabilities are constantly expanding under the winds of technological revolution. As we dive into the fabric of this digital revolution, it’s clear that AI is not just a tool or a technological marvel, but a force that will change the future of humanity.    

Artificial intelligence in our everyday life

F or both the world and Armenia, the development of AI promises to be a breakthrough. It has the potential to revolutionize education, healthcare, industry, public services, communications and virtually all other areas of human activity improving their efficiency, accessibility and quality. AI can personalize learning by adapting to each student’s abilities, increasing access to education. Imagine a classroom, where AI not only helps teachers develop personalized learning plans for each student but also uncovers and develops each child’s unique talents and interests. Thanks to AI, everyone can maximize their potential, regardless of their material means and social status.   

Healthcare will also experience unprecedented progress. From early diagnosis to personalized treatment plans, potentially saving lives and making healthcare more accessible and efficient. It promises a situation, where health inequalities are significantly reduced and vital medical knowledge becomes accessible to all, regardless of geographical boundaries or ability. 

Practical examples of integrating artificial intelligence into everyday life are varied. Smart cities of the future will be able to manage waste efficiently, control traffic and make urban life more sustainable and harmonious thanks to AI. In agriculture, accurate AI-based procedures can also optimize water use, crop yields, pest control, strengthening food security and the livelihoods of rural communities.         

Dangers and challenges

H owever, as the classic film says, with great power comes great responsibility. The dangers of artificial intelligence are manifold and cannot be ignored. Ethical consequences of AI development are deep and include information security and confidentiality issues and are directly related to the possibility of abuse. The ghost of AI, which has begun to surpass human intelligence at an unprecedented rate, has the potential to become unmanageable. Experts often discuss this scenario and there are serious concerns. In particular, Mo Gawdat, former Google X Chief Commercial Officer raises some very troubling questions. Are we prepared enough to make AI serve the interests of humanity? According to him, there is a possibility that AI will surpass human intelligence in the very near future and could become uncontrollable, and to prevent this, states should take preventive measures now.    

The potential for abuse or misuse of artificial intelligence is demonstrated by examples of its use by the armed forces. Such uses of AI raise serious liability concerns, the value of human life and the exclusion of the possibility of catastrophic errors. 

The European Parliament’s recent approval of the Artificial Intelligence Act marks a significant step towards ensuring the security and compliance of AI with fundamental rights while fostering innovation. It defines a governance structure for high-risk artificial intelligence applications, from healthcare and education to law enforcement and employment, setting standards for transparency, accuracy and human oversight. This regulation is a model that needs to be implemented globally to capitalize on the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks.  

The impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market and employment is another important issue. AI’s ability to automate tasks could lead to significant shifts in demand for certain occupations, requiring a reassessment of the skills and education of professionals. The future will likely demand a workforce, that is adaptable, tech-savvy and committed to continuous learning to evolve alongside AI. This shift is already redefining labor efficiency and creating new industries and jobs that foster human creativity and ingenuity. 

Democracy and public life are not safe from AI’s influence. The ability to influence democratic elections by manipulating information or even automating decision-making poses serious challenges to the integrity of democratic processes. It is critical to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed and used in a way that promotes democratic values, transparency and fairness.   

If we do not get lazy, artificial intelligence promises a good future

If we look into the future, the possibilities of AI seem limitless, from expanding human capabilities and expanding creative endeavors to accelerating scientific discovery and resisting global problems. Artificial intelligence has the potential to open a new era of progress and prosperity. However, this bright future is not guaranteed and requires careful planning, ethical considerations, and a joint effort.

The history of artificial intelligence is still being written in the world, and it still needs to be spread in Armenia.

Artificial intelligence represents a huge reservoir of untapped potential, such as electricity, nuclear power, the Internet. It offers both unprecedented opportunities and serious challenges. The road ahead is challenging, but through dialogue and collaborative innovation, we can use its potential to create a more prosperous and secure future.

Dear reader, I would like to inform you that the entire text presented above was generated by GPT-4 artificial intelligence in English and then translated into Armenian online. None of the above sentences were created by me. I have made only some stylistic and grammatical corrections in the text translated into Armenian to make it more compatible with the Armenian language. The article was created in about 15 minutes, including processing the imported source version (prompt) and text restructuring.

With this example, I wanted to draw attention to how far AI has come and the enormous opportunities and risks it has. Artificial intelligence is developing at an incredibly rapid pace. Yes, with the resources we have in Armenia, we are too far away from developing such a tool, but at the very least, we have no right to be late or to miss out on the use of AI and its implementation in our daily lives.