Computer Science (9645) | Benefits and risks of artificial intelligence

Study Notes: Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence (3.16.3)

Welcome to this crucial chapter! As you study Computer Science, understanding AI isn's just about algorithms; it's about its impact on society. This section explores the amazing things AI can do (the benefits) and the serious challenges we must manage (the risks).
This knowledge is essential for you, the next generation of technologists, to build and regulate AI responsibly. Let's dive in!

1. The Benefits Associated with the Use of Artificial Intelligence

AI systems are transforming many sectors because they can process information faster and more reliably than humans in specific tasks. Here are the key advantages you need to know:

1.1 Improved and More Consistent Decision Making

AI can make decisions that are more accurate and less prone to human error, fatigue, or subjective bias (if trained correctly).

• Example: Medical Diagnosis. An AI system analyzing X-rays or scans (like MRI or CT) can spot tiny patterns indicative of disease much faster and often more accurately than a human doctor who may be tired or rushed. This leads to more accurate analysis of medical data and improved patient outcomes.

1.2 Ability to Analyse Very Large Data Sets Quickly

Modern life generates Big Data (vast amounts of complex, rapidly changing data). Humans cannot possibly sift through petabytes of information, but AI excels at this.

• Analogy: Imagine trying to find one specific sentence hidden within every book ever written. A human would take millennia; AI does it in seconds. This capability allows for breakthroughs in scientific research, market prediction, and climate modeling.

1.3 Continuous Availability

Unlike humans, AI systems and robots don't need sleep, breaks, or holidays.

• This means continuous availability (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
  Example: A customer service chatbot or a monitoring system in a nuclear power plant can operate non-stop without loss of performance.

1.4 Lower Cost of Operation

While the initial investment in building an AI system can be high, the long-term operational cost is often significantly lower than employing a large human workforce for repetitive tasks.

• This lower cost of operation makes services more affordable and scalable.

1.5 Increased Accessibility to Expertise

AI can democratise access to specialized knowledge.

• AI systems can be widely distributed and made available to areas where human expertise is not readily available or too expensive.
  Example: An AI tutoring app can provide high-quality educational guidance to students in remote villages who cannot access trained human tutors.

2. The Risks Associated with the Use of Artificial Intelligence

For all its potential, AI presents significant ethical and social challenges. You must be aware of these risks and how they might affect society.

2.1 Elimination of Jobs and Social Impact

As AI and automation become more sophisticated, they will increasingly replace human workers in tasks that are routine, repetitive, or data-heavy (e.g., factory work, data entry, basic accounting).

• The elimination of jobs can lead to large-scale unemployment, economic instability, and significant social impact as communities and individuals struggle to adapt.

Did you know? Historically, technological change has always eliminated some jobs while creating new ones. The challenge with AI is the speed at which this change is happening.

2.2 Bias in Decision Making

AI systems learn from the data they are fed. If the training data is biased (i.e., it reflects existing societal prejudices based on characteristics such as gender or race), the AI will replicate and amplify that bias.

• Analogy: If you train a self-driving car only on images taken in sunny weather, it will be biased against operating safely in the snow. Similarly, if an AI hiring tool is trained predominantly on historical data from male hires, it might incorrectly penalize female candidates.

2.3 False Information and Incorrect Training Data

AI is only as good as its inputs. If the data used to train a system is incorrect, corrupted, or deliberately manipulated, the AI will produce flawed outputs, known as false information.

• Example: A system trained to flag fraudulent transactions may flag legitimate activity if the training data was tagged incorrectly, leading to unnecessary disruption.

2.4 Plagiarism

Generative AI (like tools that write essays or draw pictures) creates new content by remixing vast amounts of existing data.

• This raises concerns about plagiarism and intellectual property, as the AI's output might inadvertently copy existing copyrighted works or be used by students to cheat.

2.5 Use in Surveillance Systems

AI powers advanced surveillance tools, such as facial recognition in public spaces or monitoring online activity.

• While this can enhance security, the use in surveillance systems poses a severe risk to privacy and civil liberties, leading to concerns about government or corporate overreach and tracking of citizens.

2.6 Risk from Superintelligent Systems

This is the most theoretical but potentially most serious risk. A superintelligent system is an AI that significantly surpasses human cognitive ability across all domains (not just one narrow field).

• The risk to human existence arises if such a superintelligence develops goals that conflict with human well-being, and we lack the ability to control it. This is an existential threat debated heavily by AI researchers.