Monday, May 15, 2023
The Future for Life Institute is concerned that AI could pose significant risks to society and humanity through the spread of misinformation.
For several months it was everyone’s darling. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has impressed us with its ability to perform complex tasks within seconds that would otherwise be arduous and time consuming for humans.
ChatGPT, owned by OpenAI, co-founded by Twitter and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk and backed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has never been more talked about than ChatGPT.
But the two backers now express concern that technology is advancing at breakneck speed and could endanger the world.
And they are not alone. In late March, the Future for Life Institute, a think tank, ordered artificial intelligence companies to temporarily train powerful AI systems for at least six months, citing grave risks to society and humanity from the spread of disinformation. He wrote a letter asking him to stop, causing a stir. And replace human workers with algorithms.
serious risk
Other risks posed by the use of AI, the company said, include: Biases perpetuated by systems through training algorithms using inaccurate and unrepresentative data that result in unfavorable outcomes for certain people; government weaponization of AI systems that undermine freedom of expression and association; Intrusive monitoring by use, violation of data rights.
Ian Musomi acknowledges there is room for concern, but the CEO of Vision Drill, an AI-driven social learning platform, believes that the collective human development benefits promised by the technology He says the pitfalls are small in comparison.
Ian Muthomi Ndege, founder and CEO of Visiondrill, an AI-powered social learning platform that personalizes the learning experience, during a photo session on January 4, 2023. Photography | Diana Nguila | NMG
“The development of AI in Kenya has the potential to help solve economic problems facing Africa, such as agriculture to improve food supply and healthcare in remote areas. There are also challenges: the government has formed an AI task force and is working to make AI accessible to everyone,” says Musomi.
Pausing AI development gives countries with AI development an edge, he said.
“Some companies may fear competition and want to slow it down. We need to focus on implementing guardrails for safe and reliable AI.”
His company uses AI to simplify complex topics, provide career recommendations, and work with human instructors as co-tutors.
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“In education, tools could be built to help teachers and professors make the whole experience more engaging and productive. I think there will be applications that we cannot even imagine today,” he says. .
Just as the founders of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp created apps for smartphones that people saw as useful utilities, AI should do the same, he says.
“Let current and future AI developers create programs, apps, and companies that make AI easier for everyone to use.”
How entrenched is AI in the Kenyan economy?
Kenya has 49 AI applications across 15 sectors, according to a recent study on the use of AI in Africa by the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at Strathmore University.
Alfred Ongea, founder of consulting firm Ai Kenya, says artificial intelligence, like any technology, has strengths and weaknesses, with the difference being how it is implemented.
“Yes, the fear is well-founded. It will have an impact … Any economy that relies heavily on the internet for survival, Kenya is one of them,” he said.
“Its adoption can grow the economy of a country. People without it have been able to access quick short-term loans, and in education, we have provided students with personalized learning resources,” Ongera notes.
Alfred Ongea is the founder of consulting firm AI Kenya. File Photo | NMG
cure mistrust
“Ai Kenya’s goal is to democratize machine intelligence. We exist to ensure that you understand how you can make an impact or contribute to technology.
We do this through monthly free-to-attend events ranging from fireside chats, training workshops, documentary screenings, startup features and hackathons.
We proactively keep the public up-to-date on advances in the AI field to remain competitive and relevant in the global economy. ”
Philip Owoko, IT Consultant at SovTech Enterprise. The South African-based global software developer says growing mistrust of AI can be addressed by governments prioritizing the creation of an AI regulatory framework that addresses the human rights impacts of technology. I think.
“For example, the use of AI in healthcare raises concerns about patient privacy, diagnostic reliability, and the potential for medical error and discrimination in treatment decisions. Careful consideration is needed to protect human intelligence, validate algorithmic performance, and ensure that AI enhances, rather than replaces, human expertise,” says Owoko.
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These concerns highlight the multifaceted challenges associated with AI adoption and underscore the importance of addressing them through thoughtful regulation, ethical guidelines, transparency and ongoing research and development, he said. To tell.
“To address these concerns, policy makers, researchers, technologists, and society at large should work together to establish ethical guidelines, regulations, and frameworks that ensure the responsible and beneficial deployment of AI technologies. I need to,” he added.
→lowoko@ke.nationmedia.com
