I wouldn’t say that I have had a profound revelation about AI, either in terms of using it or learning about it. I believe AI has its benefits. I can understand the stance of those who demonize AI, and it is fascinating to observe. Sometimes I wonder if I didn’t receive the memo about something AI has done and that I don’t know of. When I watch movies that depict artificial intelligence or robots taking over the world, and I hear people claim that we are getting closer to that reality, I don’t understand. In my opinion, we are far from such a scenario, and it won’t be a reality for a long time. This perspective relates to the concept of the “Art of Scaring” by Skrzypczyk. I think many people tend to attribute too much power to today’s artificial intelligence, but I believe we are simply not there yet.
In the few weeks I’ve been in this class, I have been exposed to new ideas and different ways of thinking, thanks to my peers as well as the texts, media, and literature we engage with.
I feel lucky to be living in an era where AI is readily accessible, especially as we discuss its societal impacts and ethical considerations. Sometimes, I feel a bit sad; maybe because I wish I could see what the future holds for AI when today’s capabilities are viewed as outdated. However, this feeling also fills me with hope and excitement for the advancements I will witness in my lifetime. I often joke about how students before me whether in high school or higher education managed their work without tools like ChatGPT. AI has helped me in many ways. For example, AI-based tools have helped me in planning and organizing my thoughts on assignments when I don’t know where to begin. This assistance has not only saved me time but also improved the quality of my work.
While reading the article “Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?” from The New York Times, I encountered a statement that surprised me: “The technology is also improving quickly. Today’s A.I. companions can remember past conversations, adapt to users’ communication styles, role-play as celebrities or historical figures, and chat fluently about nearly any subject. Some can send A.I.-generated ‘selfies’ to users or communicate with them using lifelike synthetic voices.” I was honestly shocked, I didn’t know that advanced tools like these existed and continue to advance. I found the different ways A.I. is being designed and used today to be fascinating. My experience with artificial intelligence has been limited to platforms like ChatGPT, Copilot, and other well-known A.I. sites, which now seem basic compared to these imaginative tools that can send A.I. selfies or engage in conversations with realistic voices.
The article, “Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide?” also presented conflicting perspectives about AI companions: “It’s going to be super, super helpful to a lot of people who are lonely or depressed,” it says, yet it also warns that “A.I. companions may actually worsen isolation, by replacing human relationships with artificial ones.” I see both sides of this argument, one suggests lonely people might benefit from AI companionship, while the other highlights the potential danger of becoming too dependent on AI companionship. I believe two things can be true at the same time. Maybe with better regulations and stricter oversight, lonely individuals can benefit from these AI companions without becoming overly dependent. I don’t think we should demonize artificial companionship simply because it seems unfamiliar. If some people truly value these relationships, who are we to say that is not valid? The situation described in the article is tragic but highlights valuable lessons on the need for responsible AI development.
In class, we discussed various media and ideas that explore both the promises and pitfalls associated with Artificial Intelligence. One meaningful moment was when we talked about the environmental implications of AI. Before that class discussion, I was unaware of the large amounts of water required to cool the data centers that power searches on AI platforms like ChatGPT. I was very surprised to learn this fact, and it has made me become more aware of the ethical considerations surrounding AI, as well as the negative environmental impacts that many of us often forget. AI’s role in fields like healthcare is another scope that shows how artificial intelligence is incorporated into our society whether we like it or not and whether we recognize it or not. In class, we also discussed how an AI model was trained to detect cancer but mistook the presence of a ruler in an image as an indicator of cancer. Though these mistakes were made in good faith, they show the importance of careful and ethical AI use, especially in critical areas like healthcare. During the same class discussion, we also talked about how a significant part of the healthcare system—healthcare insurance companies—uses AI in ways that can be harmful to their customers, such as denying coverage based on algorithmic predictions. I believe this is where people become wary of artificial intelligence. This concern arises because AI models are essentially interacting with real lives. I also struggle to grapple with this issue because when a human makes a mistake that causes harm to someone, they can be held accountable. However, in the case of artificial intelligence, when mistakes occur, it’s challenging to hold AI accountable. We typically have to go back to the human who trained the AI or the human who created it. This is something I find difficult to reconcile, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence. Once AI is created and released to the public, if someone misuses it, can we blame the creator? After all, they did not intend for their AI to be used in a harmful way.
Yet, even with the limitations of present-day AI, I find myself hopeful. The future of AI is unknown, but its potential to help people connect, learn, and grow inspires me to stay curious and open-minded about what’s to come. Overall, my experiences with AI have been more encouraging than discouraging.