The Dark Side of AI

Have you seen those movies where robots took over the world and ended human civilization, creating world war chaos and destroying our planet? What if they’re not just fiction? Still, actually, they’re more than capable of doing that…? Yes, you heard it right!

Along with the advancement of technology and machines, it seems that “artificial intelligence” has always been the center of issues and development in the industry. Robots, virtual assistants, facial recognition, digital payments, smart home and many more – all those examples acquainted closely with human lives have the same underlying technology called AI. Without realizing, almost everything we carry and use is all from the same technological advancement and undeniably has become a close yet important part of our needs and lives.

However, to what extent do you believe and unquestionably utilize every AI technology without asking yourself, are they trustable? Well, you probably want to think twice.

Artificial Intelligence or AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in computer machines that are created and programmed to think and act similar to what humans do. Simply, they are mimics of programmed human minds. This intelligence is brilliant, fast, and accurate – they carry human-like capabilities such as reasoning, learning, planning, and creativity that enable them to perceive environments, deal with problems, and achieve goals… Somehow even better than humans. So, should we be worried?

AI technology might be an extra helping hand for humans but at the same time, it also comes to a point where this major advancement might create something dangerous and lethal on a global mass scale… something like “military weaponry”. What if the AI technology we all know is capable of creating… but also killing?

The weaponization of artificial intelligence

Recently in light of the Russian-Ukrainian war and other conflicting disputes around the world, the United Nations held a meeting to discuss the use of Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS), so-called “killer robots” on battlegrounds. These weapons are programmed with AI technology to find and kill targets with little human control. The US Air Force already used this specific programmed weapon to help to identify targets in a live operational kill chain of human targets. Similar to facial recognition, AI technologies for military weapons are used for the purpose of locating a target, setting its eye, and being ready for killing. It might be a simple command to the AI-based weapons but it is indeed “CRUEL”.

These weapons are liabilities that are prone to error, especially knowing how machines “could always” make mistakes in their programs. This debate has been a hot topic among experts that one of the reasons to not have developed AI weaponry is casualties. In cases such as they occur a false identification and invariably hitting the wrong targets. While humans are responsible for their actions, there are no specific laws or regulations to hold them accountable for any actions made by technologies. These autonomous weapons are irresponsible and cannot suffer legal consequences – resulting in long-term damages to the future of humanity.

Futuristic or Destructive?

The rise of lethal killer robots has been the center of global power play amongst world leaders and military purposes to gain competitive advantages on the battlefield, it is inexpensive and requires little human control. Making it the perfect weapon for “instant kill”. However, this is slowly becoming the reality of humanity that we cannot ignore anymore, knowing that sometime in the future, humans could live in fear of robots and technology. The innovations that we once invented are being used against ourselves… such a plot twist. Professor Stephen Hawking also warned that the establishment of AI technology could outsmart and take over human civilization. It still, feels like a movie plot.

Well, at this point you should probably realise that what happened in the movie like “The Terminator” and “Robocop” could actually happen in the upcoming years but only if we have strict regulations and banned the use of autonomous weapons systems such as killer robots, humanity might still stand a chance to rethink this idea and create something more ethical –  perhaps a “peace-maker” rather than “killing-machine”.

So you might want to believe now that we’re actually entering the 4.0 Industrial Revolution along with the possibility that killer robots are developing together with humanity… Creeped out yet by the dark side of AI?

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