AI: A Blessing or a Curse?

Me on my computer at home at about 3:30pm doing Spanish homework using AI to correct any grammar errors. (Alejandro Clemente)

Artificial intelligence, according to the Brookings Institute, “is a technology that is transforming every walk of life” AI has the ability to save time and money, but also has proven to be disruptive and racist. While not new, AI is now a booming business leaving many concerned about its long term impact on society.

 

While AI is still in the process of being figured out, their three things (among others) that AI has to offer. The first benefit can be in the financial realm. Taking care of finances can be troublesome and time consuming but the use of AI can lighten things up. As stated by the Brookings Institute, “Take the emotion out of investing and undertake decisions based on analytical considerations, and make these choices in a matter of minutes.” Also, a lot of the time, ones financial activities can become vulnerable to other people trying to remotely access their credentials and make false transactions, “AI can identify abnormalities, outliers, or deviant cases requiring additional investigation. That helps managers find problems early in the cycle, before they reach dangerous levels.” Brookings Institute added.

 

Additionally, national security can also benefit from AI. For example, AI can scan Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and then scan for threats in IP addresses that are either unknown or infected with viruses, hence elite international hackers going straight for government and/or classified files. AI can also be programmed to block those hackers with code that can counteract specific codes intended for hacking to prohibit access to classified documents. 

The third benefit AI has is further supporting in the enforcement of criminal justice. It’s been said that there is an AI system in the world that helps bring criminals into custody. This AI uses a scoring system, if a person scores high, they will be brought in. “The risk scores have been used numerous times to guide large-scale roundups.” However, this system has gone south and people have made a secret system to punish citizens for crimes they haven’t yet committed.” As Olivia Privizzino, a junior at Hall, said, “It’s still way too new.”