By Lucy McGinty

03/27/2020

While artificial intelligence was first introduced in 1956, it has gained a lot of attention and focus in the last several years. As many computer scientists and corporations have demonstrated interest in utilizing service robots, many humans have expressed fear in its innovation. As this fear has become increasingly present in articles and discussions throughout the world, it is important to see where this fear is rooted and whether it is valid. Studies show that humans have a natural fear of change due to the fact that one may permanently lose what is associated with that change. One can assume that this idea is the driving force behind humans’ fear of artificial intelligence, as the formal introduction of service robots will change society immensely. One may ask, is this a bad change? As service robots are integrated into everyday jobs, they will maximize efficiency and productivity – a great change in regards to minimizing error and maximizing profit.

However, as many may already know, humans do not only think about maximizing efficiency – they think about their own wellbeing. Humans believe artificial intelligence poses an existential threat. While many computer scientists deny this fear, it is important to recognize what robots are truly capable of doing. Robots can complete complex actions, enact autonomous decision making and adapt to different situations. It is evident that robots are further resembling humans with every software program advancement. As of 2018, scientists noted that robots could even create a degree of automated social presence during encounters; robots could make humans feel as though they were in the company of another social entity. Overall, these functions could allow robots to take over many jobs in the service industry, but humans should not worry. Advancing technology has been replacing jobs for decades, however, with new technological advancements, come new jobs. When the car was invented, horse carers thought their job was over, but the advancement only created new jobs. As artificial intelligence replaces old jobs, it will allow humans to find new niches and job markets.

Furthermore, as it is clear that robots are highly intelligent products, many fear that robots will become conscious and seek to destroy the human race. This is not going to happen – it is merely a thing one may see in a movie. Artificial intelligence operates under limitations that are defined by the coding that dictates their actions – coding that is defined by humans. While Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is deemed the term for independently thinking robots, programmers are very far from that advancement. A robot may be able to beat a human in chess, but it is because a human has taught the robot a chess algorithm that the robot has practiced. A robot cannot do anything it is not programmed to do; programmers have safeguards in place to ensure that they have complete control over the robot.

Overall, society is scared of the fact that we do not know where artificial intelligence will take us – and that is completely reasonable – but it is time to embrace its benefits. Service robots will allow blue-collar workers to utilize their skills in more niche markets, replace jobs that put humans’ lives at risk and provide companies with maximum efficiency and profit. Furthermore, Artificial intelligence may help doctors recognize cancer in patients more efficiently and provide programs that could prevent car accidents. While the idea of robots may scare some, it is important to take the leap, for their benefits could advance society in the best way possible.