AI Risks: An Overview
Philip Fox, 6 April 2023
Modern AI will change the world profoundly. Much of this will be positive, bringing us more creativity, knowledge, comfort and joy. But there are serious risks as well. This article provides an incomplete overview.
1) Discrimination
AI systems are trained on huge amounts of data. This data reflects prejudice and stereotypes that can also be found in some parts of society. An AI can reproduce these stereotypes, e.g. when it bases decisions about creditworthiness on skin color.
2) Attacks on public discourse
AI-powered propaganda and disinformation campaigns can undermine public discourse. This could lead to dwindling trust in facts and a shared reality. Democratic discourse would become more difficult as a result.
3) Privacy
AI systems collect and process large amounts of personal data. The more concentrated this data is in the hands of a few, the greater the risk of sensitive information being misused. For authoritarian states in particular, there are unprecedented opportunities for mass surveillance.
4) Job loss
The automation of both physical and mental tasks through AI could soon lead to economic insecurity for many people. It is unclear exactly how AI will affect the job market, but unprecedented disruptions seem possible.
5) Economic inequality
The market for AI solutions is considered potentially very lucrative. If profits are distributed among just a few tech giants, this could exacerbate global inequality.
6) Automated Warfare & International Terrorism
The development of autonomous weapons systems and AI-enabled military technology could create new kinds of devastating weapons, which are comparatively easy to manufacture. If terrorist actors or authoritarian states discover or seize such technologies, new risks to global security will emerge.
7) Uncontrollable AI
Advanced AI systems could soon surpass human intelligence. They might develop their own goals in the process and, potentially, evade human control. Therefore, AI also poses existential risks to humanity as a whole. It would be a mistake to ignore them.
Some of these risks are already noticeable today. Other consequences could occur very soon: Progress in the field of AI is rapid, giving it the potential to profoundly and permanently change our world in a very short time.