ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIETY.

Artificial Intelligence is a dynamic concept. Its definition is ever-changing, in fact, there is no single definition of AI which is universally accepted. In the simplest term, AI can be defined as ‘the intelligence depicted by machines’ or ‘The problem-solving actions taken by machines to satisfy human needs. In complex terms, AI does or can do all those things that haven’t been done by humans, with better efficiency and more chance of doing it successfully.

AI is one of that field which is having or might have the greatest impact on human societies. It is not an exclusive field (though it can be studied separately) as AI constantly impacts various other fields (manufacturing- 3D printing, Transportation- Driverless cars, Politics- e-governance, etc.)

Future belongs to AI and many of us who will not be able to adapt to the changes AI is bringing to the market, will surely get replaced by a machine. Take for example the service of the staff engaged in the manufacturing industry. As Karl Marx rightly said ‘up-gradation in technology/capital is key for any capitalist to be successful’, A capitalist who owns a manufacturing plant is constantly engaged in upgrading his machines. These machines are capable of doing the work of many laborers altogether in less time and at lower cost. Thus, every capitalist is buying these automated machines which although increases their production and profit but is also a reason for the job loss for many workers who simply got replaced by a machine. There are other issues as well. Issues that are less visible but are of great concern. Take for example the ‘Matter of Privacy’. Tech-driven products (in this case Alexa built by Amazon) have full access to our voices. Alexa listens to everything, and also stores the data and then it may compile our data and sell it to the third party. This may not sound so horrifying at first, but it becomes a matter of grave concern when it listens to our conversation we were having privately with others. Conversations which were only meant to be listened by those with whom we were having that private conversation, and the idea of it getting sold to the third party for whatever purposes surely sounds pathetic.

Thus, AI is bringing a change which is affecting the rich, the poor, the underdeveloped, the most developed among others. Technology need not to be feared as the change it is bringing is surely helping human life in many ways but what it requires is that societies, nations, and humans at individual level engage in constantly upgrading their skills, engage in self-regulation and of course engage in good politics and decision making to minimize the negative effects that AI is bringing with itself. In the future, people who will survive the AI wave will belong to three categories: the ones who owns the wealth (capitalist), The one who can deal with complex machines, and lastly, the one who will be able to upgrade their skill as required by the changing economy.