Why is everyone freaking out about AI?

AI is to humans as cars are to roads, as books are to language, as the internet is to computers. It's another tool to move us along in the path of life toward more problem-solving.

In all of the above situations, anyone can take either part of the equation and use it for good and progress or for evil and control. Does that mean that you should allow fear to prevent you from exploring the possibilities that can come from them? To prevent you from creating products/services/ideas, situations, or relationships that have yet to exist? 

In the same way that roads provide a means for car accidents to happen, they also provide a way for visiting loved ones and for emergency vehicles to quickly respond to a car crash, fire, or other disaster. Similarly, books can be used to spread fear, but they can also be used to share fantasies, education, and hope. The internet has hackers, but it also has more information than the Library of Alexandria. Yin has yang, and darkness has light. The key to this life we find ourselves in is balance.

AI is not bad, and it is not good. It exists and it’s up to the individuals to decide how it will play a part in their lives. Just because someone else is using anything for “bad”, doesn't mean that you should not use it for “good”. If you think that someone is using something for “bad” then you should absolutely feel a calling to use it for “good”, contribute to the balance, and create the balance.

AI has the ability to evaluate all data that humans have created, collected, and thought up, and can use that to help us solve problems that we haven’t been able to solve yet. It has the ability to give frank resolutions without the influence of greed, power, jealousy, or emotion. We can ask questions and get answers without human error. We can take the answers or leave the answers, regardless of the choices we make with the information, it presents new ideas and rational solutions to questions.

I have seen some people provide the time-old, recycled "concern" of "it will take away jobs". Well ya! Every new step forward in human existence will and should take away jobs. The reason we invent and move forward is to make life easier for everyone. When cars were created, the people who built horse-drawn carriages lost their jobs, but the people who built roads, and cars had new jobs. Further down the road, there were jobs for people who help control traffic, for people who provide training for driving. There are endless possibilities when something new is introduced. Do you think that when the first motorized vehicle was created they knew back then how huge the transportation industry would be one day and that it would employ millions of people with jobs that hadn't even been dreamt of yet?

Another popular concern I see is that "AI art is stealing". This one is really interesting to me and I wonder if the people saying this would consider themselves artists. There has never been a human artist to exist that did not use their eyes/ears/feelings to experience the art from another artist where it did not influence them, which in turn helped them create their own art. As humans, we are the result of our experiences. Every single thing we experience makes us who we are which helps us all talk and move the way we do, interact the way we do, and create art the way that we do. AI is taking that same process, speeding it up, and using technology instead of biology to make it happen. AI is the collection of all human ideas, inventions, conversations, articles, writings, art, failures, and successes. AI is one of our ideas, it's one of our creations, and in its own way, it's human art. It is us in a technological way instead of a biological one.

Yes, people will inevitably use it for bad. That's the condition of being human, free will. People will do what they want to with the same thing that someone else would use with the opposite intention. If the people who will use AI for good stray away from it altogether because of the people who use it for bad then they are allowing the people who will use it for bad to determine the future for all of us. Creating a balance is just as important now with the boom of AI as it has been in all of human existence.

A couple of industries I am personally excited to see AI make a positive impact on are the medical and humanitarian ones. I have experienced many problems both from human and animal doctors that are a direct result of human error. When we can use AI to evaluate symptoms, and results from tests such as X-rays, blood work, MRIs, etc then we will eliminate the problem we have will malpractice and human error. Gone will be the days of waiting for test results, of having side effects from medications, from getting treatment that did not work, and from misdiagnosis. The possibilities behind AI helping with humanitarian efforts are inspiring, so I am going to let AI speak for itself and copy and paste a response ChatGPT gave me when I asked "How can AI have a positive impact on the humanitarian industry?":

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian industry, contributing to various aspects of disaster response, relief efforts, and long-term development. Here are several ways in which AI can have a positive impact on the humanitarian sector:

1. Early Warning Systems:

• AI can analyze large datasets, including weather patterns, seismic activity, and social media data, to predict and provide early warnings for natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. This enables proactive evacuation and emergency preparedness.

1. Disaster Response and Relief:

• AI-powered drones and robots can be deployed for rapid assessment of disaster-stricken areas. They can survey damage, locate survivors, and assess infrastructure conditions, providing crucial information for efficient and targeted relief efforts.

1. Predictive Analytics for Disease Outbreaks:

• AI algorithms can analyze healthcare data, including patterns of disease transmission, to predict and monitor potential disease outbreaks. This allows for early intervention and resource allocation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

1. Supply Chain Optimization:

• AI can optimize the logistics and supply chain management for humanitarian organizations. This includes predicting demand, managing inventory, and ensuring timely and efficient delivery of aid to affected areas.

1. Data Analysis for Needs Assessment:

• AI analytics tools can process vast amounts of data to assess the needs of affected populations accurately. This helps humanitarian agencies tailor their response efforts, ensuring that resources are allocated based on real-time data and evolving situations.

1. Language Translation and Communication:

• AI-powered language translation tools facilitate effective communication between aid workers and affected communities, overcoming language barriers and ensuring accurate information exchange.

1. Remote Sensing and Satellite Imagery:

• AI can analyze satellite imagery and remote sensing data to monitor changes in terrain, identify areas at risk, and assess the impact of disasters. This information is valuable for planning and executing relief efforts.

1. Financial Inclusion and Aid Distribution:

• AI-based financial tools can facilitate cash transfers and financial inclusion for affected populations. This allows individuals to access aid more directly, empowering them to make choices based on their specific needs.

1. Community Resilience Building:

• AI can support the development of community resilience by analyzing historical data and identifying vulnerabilities. This information helps in designing programs that strengthen communities against future disasters.

1. Education and Skill Development:

• AI-driven educational platforms can provide learning opportunities for individuals in crisis-affected areas. This contributes to skill development and capacity-building for long-term empowerment.

1. Monitoring Human Rights Violations:

• AI can be used to analyze data and monitor human rights violations. This helps in identifying and addressing issues such as displacement, violence, and discrimination.

1. Climate Change Adaptation:

• AI can assist in analyzing climate data to understand and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This is crucial for building resilient communities and addressing long-term environmental challenges.

While AI offers tremendous potential in the humanitarian sector, it's essential to approach its implementation ethically, ensuring privacy, transparency, and accountability in its use for the benefit of vulnerable populations. Collaborations between technology developers, humanitarian organizations, and local communities are vital to harness AI's positive impact effectively.

I know that AI will change our future and I know that we have a responsibility to create a balance with it, just like we have with every other invention to ever come across human existence.

Be the light, create the balance.