Past week I listened to a great podcast from the Digital Twin Fan Club! Congrats Neil Thompson and Henry Fenby-Taylor for hosting such an engaging episode, and their choice of guest were excellent. The episode subject was AI, and while I agreed with some of the points discussed, I found myself in slight disagreement with others points made.
I'll begin with the points where I have a different perspective. The podcast aimed to demystify the controversial idea of AI as a threat and instead emphasized that AI is essentially an algorithm applied to data. I am a positive thinker regarding technology.But while I understand the perspective of not viewing AI as a threat, I have concerns about the impact of AI performing human tasks. It's not so much a "threat" in the traditional sense, but rather the potential consequences of AI executing tasks with inherent biases. Why with inherent bias? Well because all the historic data that AI consumes is bias. Until we address this issue, we must approach AI applications with caution.
Another point raised was the comparison between AI and human standards, particularly in the context of autonomous cars having accidents. The podcast suggested that we shouldn't hold AI to higher standards than humans since accidents are inevitable for both. However, what was missed here for me, is the scale at which AI will and it operates. We indeed need AI to meet higher standards because it will be consistently applied at a scale where we cannot afford significant room for mistakes.
Now, on to the points that resonated with me and with which I massively agree. One crucial point is the need for boardrooms and leadership to adopt a new perspective on AI. We are at a pivotal moment in history where those in power must acknowledge what they don't understand. They don't need to be tech experts, but they should have advisors who can help them comprehend the rapidly evolving tech landscape, the benefits and issues. The example of the newspaper print industry's slow adaptation to the internet serves as a great reminder of the consequences of not adapting. I will just have two quotes for people in such a high positions: Socrates, "All I know is that I know nothing," and as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz said, "we're not in Kansas anymore."
Another well-articulated point is the role of regulations and guidelines in fostering innovation. The analysis of the UK's response to this issue is comprehensive. It's essential to make the population aware of how their data is used in a transparent manner, allowing users to decide whether they consent to such usage. Also understanding when such a usage has a positive impact.
Lastly, the call for action in the UK to avoid falling behind in the AI landscape is very relevant. There are some great ideas in the podcast but I encourage you to listen to it. It’s a nice one.
https://soundcloud.com/digitaltwinfanclub/how-is-ai-like-the-automotive-industry
Comments