The 'Scary Side' of AI

Some say artificial intelligence is evil; others worry about AI replacing them. According to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX as well as chairman at SolarCity, artificial intelligence (AI) is a "fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization," and "if you are not concerned about AI safety, you should be. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? The potential for job disruption is another area of considerable AI concern. In a 2013 study, University of Oxford researchers estimated that 47% of total U.S. employment is at risk because of "computerization." Clearly some of this computerization comes from AI technology. More recently, in a 2017 study, McKinsey suggested that "half of today's work activities could be automated by 2055, but this could happen up to 20 years earlier or later depending on the various factors, in addition to other wider economic conditions.... Activities most susceptible to automation involve physical activities in highly structured and predictable environments, as well as the collection and processing of data.