Ridge Runner Chronicles: Can We Really Control the Artificial Intelligence Threat?

By Editor | June 13, 2023 |

By Bill Hoagland

By now, you have probably heard that the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily lives poses a significant threat to our continued human existence. Within the past two weeks, hundreds of experts have signed a petition asking that we have a six month pause in the use of AI in our daily lives until we can determine some guidelines and rules to keep AI from getting out of control. The list of experts calling for a pause includes Eldon Musk, Steven Wozniak, and Sam Altman, the creator of OpenAI; it even includes Henry Kissinger (remember him?) who has said that “AI could be as consequential as the advent of nuclear weapons—but even less predictable.” This pronouncement by so many experts that AI threatens our existence is definitely a wake-up call, but is there really anything that can be done about the uncontrolled development of AI?

AI poses a threat on several different levels. The first and most obvious level is that AI can result in its rendering of significant misinformation. We have seen that misinformation plays out in “deep fakes,” for example, where well known personalities are depicted as doing something completely contrary to their personalities. These deep fakes seem authentic and could easily lead to world chaos. Just imagine, for example, what deep fakes could do to our upcoming 2024 election campaigns—amusing at first until we realize they are impacting the core of our democracy. The second level of a threat to humanity lies in the fact that as time goes on, AI could take over the human ability to reason and think independently. This prospect—that machines will eventually take over all aspects of our lives—has haunted us for years.

Consider, for example, a rant rendered long before the internet came into existence; it is actually a well-reasoned opinion from, believe it or not, a homicidal maniac—Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber—in his Manifesto. “When a new system of technology is introduced as an option that an individual can accept or not as he choses, it does not remain optional. In many cases the new technology changes society in such a way that people eventually find themselves forced to use it.” Kaczynski could easily have been referring to our increasing dependence on the internet generally and AI specifically. And he is right: can you imagine completely shutting down the internet now? We can’t possibly allow that to happen, can we? His foresight was remarkable, but his solution to the problem was and still is unacceptable; his solution was complete destruction of technology and all persons connected to it.

So what is the solution that the so-called experts are suggesting to deal with the threat posed by AI? They are calling for a six month moratorium on AI development so that in the meantime, an organization can be put in place to monitor and control AI development, similar to the International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC). Really? As if the IAEC has been really effective in controlling the proliferation of nuclear weapons? When the IAEC was created, as pointed out in a column by Mike Watson in the June 2 edition of the Wall Street Journal, only three countries had nuclear weapons and now at least seven more countries have nukes or are actively pursuing them. The problem with effectively controlling the development of AI, just as with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, will be not only detection but enforcement as well. We will need more than just a commission to deal with this issue.

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• Bill Hoagland has practiced law in Alton for more than 50 years, but he has spent more than 70 years hunting, fishing and generally being in the great outdoors. His wife, Annie, shares his love of the outdoor life. Much of their spare time is spent on their farm in Calhoun County. Bill can be reached at [email protected].

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