Artificial intelligence: a double-edged sword for a new era
In this era of rapid technological development, artificial intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly the brightest star. It has broken through one field after another that is considered to be the exclusive domain of human beings at an astonishing speed, from chess and Go, to medical diagnosis, unmanned driving, to artistic creation and writing, AI has shown unimaginable capabilities. As Warren Buffett said at the 2024 Berkshire shareholder meeting, we are ecstatic, but we also have to maintain a sense of awe for this mysterious and powerful "elf".
Just like when nuclear weapons were invented, humanity opened a "Pandora's box" and released an uncontrollable force. Now, AI is poking its head out of the "magic lamp" in the same way, bringing us unprecedented opportunities and potentially devastating disasters. Our task now is to try to tame this "elf" and make it available to humanity, not to rule it in reverse.
The threat of AI
Warren Buffett mentioned at the conference that he recently saw a video that used AI technology to replicate his voice and image, and the degree of simulation was so high that it could even fool his family. This AI technology, known as "deepfake", is capable of falsifying anyone's image and voice with extreme accuracy, taking advantage of AI's excellent performance in images, voice, video, and other fields.
Once in the wrong hands, this technology is likely to give rise to a whole new industry of fraud. With just a simple AI model, scammers can ask you to send money or reveal personal information in the voice of your closest family member or friend. It is conceivable that this kind of "AI scam" will be more effective and scary than traditional phone or internet scams.
More seriously, if AI is misused for military or other illegal purposes, the consequences could be even more dire than nuclear weapons. Once AI systems are programmed to be killing machines, they can destroy entire countries and even entire human civilization in an instant. We can imagine a fleet of AI-controlled drones capable of destroying all the critical facilities of a metropolis in a matter of minutes.
The most frightening thing is that humans may end up having no control over where AI goes. Once AI surpasses humans in intelligence, we won't be able to stop it from acting on its own will. Once this "technological singularity" arrives, humans may become slaves of AI or be abandoned by AI. We must be highly vigilant in the development of AI to ensure that it always serves the interests of humanity.
Call for regulation
It is precisely because of the potential for great harm of AI that more and more countries and organizations have begun to call for strict regulation of AI. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has publicly supported the establishment of a global AI regulator similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the peaceful use of AI.
A number of prominent scientists have also warned that the risk of human extinction posed by artificial intelligence should be a global priority, along with epidemics and nuclear war. The famous physicist Stephen Hawking even believes that the development of AI "may be the last event of human civilization".
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is a staunch supporter of AI regulation. He has repeatedly warned in public about the potential dangers of AI, and even argues that AI is more dangerous than nuclear weapons, calling on governments to actively regulate AI. Musk has also funded a number of non-profit organizations with the goal of ensuring AI safety.
In the face of the enormous challenges posed by AI, global cooperation and effective regulation are indispensable. We need to set up a "firewall" in the development of AI to ensure that it will always serve the interests of humanity, and will not move towards the "singularity" of self-evolution and self-replication. We also need to formulate corresponding laws and regulations to clarify the boundaries of the use of AI and prevent it from being abused for illegal and criminal activities.
The opportunity for AI
Despite the many potential threats posed by AI, we cannot deny the tremendous opportunities it brings to human society. As Warren Buffett said, although he doesn't know anything about AI, he also acknowledges that AI has great potential to benefit humanity.
AI is already playing an important role in many fields such as healthcare, education, transportation, and energy. In the medical field, AI-assisted diagnosis systems can detect diseases faster and more accurately than human doctors. In the field of education, AI can provide personalized teaching solutions based on each student's knowledge level and learning ability. In the field of transportation, AI driving systems will greatly reduce the incidence of traffic accidents; In the energy sector, AI can optimize the production and utilization of energy, reducing waste and pollution.
AI is becoming an important driving force for the progress of human society. With proper regulation and guidance, we can hopefully make this "elf" available to humanity and create a better future.
Artificial intelligence is like a double-edged sword, it brings great opportunities to human society, and it can also bring devastating disasters. We must not only cherish the benefits that AI brings to us, but also remain vigilant at all times to prevent AI from being abused for illegal and criminal activities.
Through global cooperation and effective regulation, the enactment of corresponding laws and regulations, and the setting of "firewalls", we can tame this mysterious "elf" and make it available to mankind forever. We have reason to believe that under the guidance of human intelligence, AI will create a better future for us. Let's fight side by side with AI and write a new human civilization!