The unregulated development of artificial intelligence potentially poses numerous adverse impacts on the human species.
From ethical concerns and bias to unemployment, privacy breaches, and the erosion of human skills….
these consequences highlight the risks of continuing to pursue a laisez faire attitude towards the devleopment of artificial intelligence.
In a world free from the pursuit of power, financial gain and gloablist agendas Governments might reasonably be expected to:-
(i) take proactive measures to enact regulations that protect individuals,
(ii) ensure accountability;
(iii) preserve the values that are essential for a safe and beneficial integration of AI into society.
Over the past 100 years, numerous examples have demonstrated the adverse impacts of unregulated technological advancements on humanity.
These historical instances serve as “cautionary tales” that suggest a move away from the extant laissez faire approach by governments to artificial intelligence (AI) development.
One notable example is the rise of industrialization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the industrial revolution brought significant progress and economic growth,
it also led to severe social and environmental consequences.
Unregulated industrial development resulted in:-
(i) unsafe working conditions,
(ii) exploitation of labor,
(iii) environmental degradation.
It was only through the implementation of labor laws, safety regulations, and environmental protections that governments…..
through the populations they were elected to serve were able to mitigate those negative impacts….
and mitigate the negative impacts on mankind and the environment.
Another example is the unregulated use of asbestos in construction and various industries throughout the 20th century.
Initially hailed as a versatile and fire-resistant material
Asbestos was widely used without proper regulations or awareness of its health risks.
Asbestos exposure has since been linked to serious health conditions such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
It was through the introduction at governmental level of regulations the proactive enforcement of bans, and asbestos removal programs that populations at large were able to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the previously unregulated material.
The advent of the internet in the late 20th century and the rapid expansion and availability of the web protocols that run over it also offers pertinent insights.
In its early stages, the internet and the protocols operating on it eg. the web lacked comprehensive regulation, leading to significant challenges.
Issues such as cybercrime, privacy breaches, and the spread of misinformation started an inexorable growth.
However, governments gradually recognized the need for regulation and implemented measures that if enforced rigrously were designed to protect individuals.
Examples of regulations include data protection laws, cybersecurity regulations, and efforts to combat disinformation and online harassment.
Looking specifically at AI-related technologies, the rise of social media platforms in recent decades exemplifies the consequences of unregulated technology.
These platforms, initially celebrated for their ability to connect people globally, have faced scrutiny for issues such as data privacy violations, manipulation of user data, and the amplification of misinformation and harmful content.
Governments have responded by implementing stricter regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, with the intention of safeguarding user privacy and an appearance of holding tech companies accountable for their actions.
These historical examples demonstrate the potential harm that can arise from unregulated technological developments.
The adverse impacts on workers, public health, privacy, and societal well-being serve as valuable lessons.
To ensure the responsible and ethical integration of AI into society, governments might move away from the predominantly laissez faire attitude, draw from these experiences and start to introduce regulations that address actual and potential risks.
In parallel enforcement measures need to be introduced to realise the aspirations of those regulations in order to safeguard the interests of individuals and the human species as a whole.
This is a joint Tritokreuz and Tritopatte Production in association with polyonom.
