As the use of artificial intelligence becomes more widespread, many industries are feeling its impacts. As a freelance writer, AI has completely changed our industry. Many writers struggle to find work or are being paid less. Writers are not the only profession that is feeling the effects of AI. Goldman Sachs economists predicted last year that as many as 300 million full-time jobs would be lost or diminished globally by the rise of generative AI, with white-collar workers likely to be the most at risk. Job displacement is just one of the realities of the rise of AI. Here are 8 unfortunate ways that AI is affecting our society.
1. Job Displacement
AI can automate a variety of jobs, including writing. A wide-ranging poll of 2,000 executives, conducted by Swiss staffing firm Adecco Group in collaboration with research firm Oxford Economics, showed that 41% of c-suite executives expect to employ fewer people within the next five years because of AI.
2. Spread of Misinformation
Sometimes AI just gets facts wrong or makes up untrue information. This is one of the unfortunate realities of AI, it can’t be entirely trusted. Many bad actors are creating sites aimed at spreading fake news. In turn, this can cause a lack of trust from the public, creating challenges for news organizations and journalists. It’s important for the public to help identify and not proliferate the spread of AI-generated fake news.
3. Loss of Creativity
Especially in the writing field. Creativity is being replaced by generative AI. AI often drives out creativity and replaces it with a flood of cheap work. This can be seen in the publishing industry, where AI-generated books are becoming more prevalent. Musicians are being threatened by AI-generated music. Artists as well fear for the future of their craft as generative AI can easily replicate works of art. An AI-created artwork, ‘Portrait of Edmond de Belamy,’ recently sold for $432,500. Many creatives still hope that AI will not be able to replace the human imagination.
4. AI Bugs
Have you heard of AI hallucinating? While some of the false outputs generated by AI can be seen as harmless, some AI hallucinations can have real consequences. Especially for the medical field using AI for diagnoses, AI may see a benign lesion and misdiagnose it as malignant. This is why human oversight is so important. Training AI with quality datasets can also help prevent bugs and hallucinations.
5. Deep Fakes
One of the many dangers of AI is its role in spreading deep fakes throughout the internet. Have you seen false videos of Kelly Clarkson promoting weight loss drugs or Taylor Swift endorsing Donald Trump? These are just a few examples of the power of AI to generate content that is misleading and false. AI is threatening everything from elections to companies and individuals with this content. So how do you spot deep fakes? The answer is that it is becoming more difficult as AI has learned how to correct common issues like the failure to have subjects blink. Ironically, AI may be the answer to help crack down on and spot deep fakes.
6. Displaces Human Empathy
AI can’t comprehend and experience human emotion. It can only simulate empathy, but cannot truly understand situations and context. Many fear that human emotion may get eroded as AI takes over. Nothing can replace human-to-human connection. This is why AI friend bots and therapists can be controversial at best.
7. Lack of Accountability
Who really is responsible when AI goes wrong? The reality of AI is that the answer is often unclear. This is why regulatory bodies need to create clearer guidelines when it comes to the use of AI and who is accountable. Companies also need to manage employee’s use of AI and implement policies around AI. Developers also need to be held responsible for training AI responsibly with fewer biases and safety measures to prevent misuse.
8. Promotes Human Laziness
Many fear that AI is promoting human laziness on the job and in academia. Students who rely too heavily on AI may not learn how to write properly or plagiarize assignments. Instead of avoiding the realities of AI, schools are beginning to implement resources for students using AI that give real-time feedback on writing assignments and tutor students based on their individual needs. When used properly, AI has the ability to create more equitable learning around the world.
Technology Often Comes as a Shock
Any technological advancement usually comes as a shock to our society. These are always growing pains and drawbacks, but it’s important that we work through the negatives and find solutions. Many industries are beginning to pivot. Schools are trying to find positive ways to use AI as a resource. AI creators are trying to work through bugs and create improvements. Ultimately, if we don’t adapt to artificial intelligence, we may be left behind.