The Human Promise of the AI Revolution

Utopians believe that once AI far surpasses human intelligence, it will provide us with near-magical tools for alleviating suffering and realizing human potential. In this vision, super-intelligent AI systems will so deeply understand the universe that they will act as omnipotent oracles, answering humanity's most vexing questions and conjuring brilliant solutions to problems such as disease and climate change. But not everyone is so optimistic. The best-known member of the dystopian camp is the technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has called super-intelligent AI systems "the biggest risk we face as a civilization," comparing their creation to "summoning the demon." This group warns that when humans create self-improving AI programs whose intellect dwarfs our own, we will lose the ability to understand or control them.