Artificial intelligence has no doubt transformed the world into what it is today, but some question if it has all changed for the better. Artificial intelligence, according to nasa.gov, refers to the computer systems that can perform complex tasks normally done by human reasoning, decision making, creating, etc. AI is used everywhere in the world daily, but some question if artificial intelligence is taking over too much of our lives.
Many jobs have been taken over or could be taken over by robots, including customer service representatives, car and truck drivers, computer programmers, research analysts, travel advisors, content writers, graphic designers and more. exploding.topics says that 300 million jobs could be lost due to AI and 14% of all workers have been displaced from their jobs by AI already. There are lots of different opinions about the up and coming tech. “I think AI gives good information when necessary but you shouldn’t use it to an extent where you’re using it to cheat,” says 7th grader Ruby Kyyra.
AI applications such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Deep Seek, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some pros from online.us.edu are that AI gives advanced healthcare. AI robots could be very helpful in the near future with discovering cures and treatments for illnesses, and could also help with surgical procedures. Improved agriculture is also another pro about AI. AI programs could help farmers make decisions about how to use their land well. They can also provide weather forecasts and more. The last pro is this new scientific discovery itself. There is no limit to where scientists can take this. AI represents a new step into the future and its possibilities are endless.
Although the advantages make AI seem great, there are still some disadvantages. From liberties.eu some cons are lack of transparency. AI can give incorrect information or can be faulty, which is why transparency is important. But the real problem is lack of visibility, or not knowing why AI is making these mistakes. Another disadvantage is biased algorithms. Design flaws that are going into algorithms can lead to bias outcomes. Lastly, the environmental impact is also a concern. Training a single AI model produces around 300,000 kg of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to 125 round trips from NYC to Beijing, China. 7th grader Isla Harrison talking about the AI job takeover says, “Some jobs can be done better and faster by AI than humans, but I still think humans are more reliable, even if it takes longer.”
Much research has been done concerning AI and if it’s more harmful than helpful. Statistics done by nu.edu and Gallup.news show that 77% of companies are either using or exploring AI but 31% of Americans believe that AI is doing more harm than good. Some services that are usually done by humans have recently been done entirely or partly done by artificial intelligence, such as driving and robotic surgery. “I would not want to have a robot doing surgery on me because although humans make a lot of mistakes, there are way more risks having a robot doing it,” says 7th grader, Lydia Samuelson. Self driving cars are also coming into the picture because of this new development.
There are many different opinions on this new technology, whether it’s too much of a risk to keep developing or if it’s one of the greatest pieces of technology humans have ever created. But with all these opinions, AI is still transforming the world and developing every day. Humans have definitely come a long way with the help of AI. As we keep taking this step into the future, the fate of humanity itself lies in the hands of these robots.
