The impact of AI on humanity, society and the environment.

Artificial intelligence has already emerged from the lamp. Thus, the question now goes far beyond whether AI will have an impact on humans, society, and the environment.

The main debate focuses on whether the impact of AI will be good or bad. It also considers for whom it will be good or bad. Additionally, it questions how, where, and when it will happen.

Prof. Luciano Floridi, in his book “The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence,” addresses this issue (opportunities) based on four fundamental points from philosophical anthropology about the understanding of human dignity and development:

• Self-realization, that is, what we can become
• Action, that is, what we can do
• Individual and social capabilities, that is, what we can achieve
• Social harmony, that is, how we can interact with each other and the world.

For each point, AI can create different opportunities (and of course threats). A perspective focused solely on opportunity risks missing the potential of AI. Focusing only on threats poses the same risk. AI is a significant lever for solving many of today’s issues. Therefore, framing it well is crucial.

It is nearly impossible to simply consider humans as ‘logical and rational’. In many cases, our decisions and behaviors are sharply irrational.

We see ourselves at the pinnacle of evolution. However, when we look at the life log of our planet, we are almost the last added, the youngest species. Yet, we are extremely destructive. We engage in relentless struggle with nature, assuming an unfounded right to manage (and consume) it.

Here is another proof of humans’ tendency to behave irrationally. The human brings nature to the point of consumption in its struggle with nature. They do this not realizing they actually put their own species into an existential problem.

We should consider artificial intelligence from a rational perspective. Think about the potential problems if we focus on the irrational decision sets and goals of humanity. Imagine the issues that arise in this new technology ecosystem!

After all, in an environment without universal agreement on fundamental concepts, certainty is out of reach. There is no universal agreement on fundamental concepts like good-bad, right-wrong, and rational-irrational. Therefore, certainty is out of reach. It is impossible to achieve certainty. How can anyone decide on behalf of humanity that ‘this is good’ when using this technology?

We should view and evaluate the AI ecosystem from a healthy framework. This framework should consider ‘what we can be’. It should also consider ‘what we can do’. Additionally, it should evaluate ‘what we can achieve’. Finally, it should decide ‘how we can create social harmony’. Placing ‘public advantage’ at the center is crucial. If not controlled and directed fairly and sustainably, AI can intensify social issues through bias or discrimination. It can increase the digital divide between societies. It deepen issues like equal opportunity and fair distribution of wealth.

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In my opinion, the biggest risk with AI is its potential to become more of a source of the problem. It could cease to be part of the solution.

It’s also beneficial to clarify another point.

Artificial intelligence is not a single super technology. That is, there is no single on-off switch. Simply put; AI signifies a broad ecosystem consisting of complex technologies, techniques, and applications.

With more powerful computers and greater processing capacity, it consists of interconnected layers of processors. These processors are capable of sharing impulses and data. They work in a manner like neurons in the human brain.

We’re talking about a complex and multi-layered system that is rapidly developing, learning, and increasing its capabilities.

So, although its potential is very high, setting up regulatory governance mechanisms for AI is quite challenging. It involves preparing policies. It also requires defining the general application framework. Another difficulty is predicting the effects of this technology that we haven’t seen yet and thus setting policies.

Countries certainly do not want to miss the opportunities created by AI and lose their competitive positions. On the other hand, they discuss mixed policies that even if hesitantly include ‘for humans, trustworthy, source of goodness, etc.’

Yet, it seems like there’s a complex race about AI regulations in the world. For example, there are 290 AI policy initiatives designed by EU member states.

We have seen this many times in history. Once again, some people are making decisions on behalf of the majority. They are determining what is ‘good and right’ and shouting ‘everything for humanity’.

But as always, behind the scenes, hidden agendas are at work…

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