Technological Intelligence – Fascinated or Fearful?
In the half-dozen years that I have been writing and speaking about Technological Intelligence, I have found that people fall into two general categories: those who fear it and those who are fascinated by it. They are either generally fascinated by its potential to improve humanity or fearful of it taking over humanity.
The fearful group discusses robotic overlords and human subjugation, often citing Terminator 3. We have all seen dystopian Hollywood images of chrome human-looking robots that, through their superior capabilities, can control humans and society in general. We have all been filled with sci-fi movies or books in which technology collaborates with evil humans or with other technologies to control and direct.
The fascinatio group cites the huge potential for medical, genetic, and problem-solving possibilities. They speak about how technological intelligence can solve the big problems that humanity has yet to solve. This group embraces technology more than the fearful group and believes that technology is for the benefit of humanity.
As I have written here, having been given the flawed name of Artificial Intelligence triggers many to become fearful of it immediately. Who doesn’t think that “artificial” is of less value than real? The name itself causes reservation as humans generally value artificial as being less than the real thing.
[please do take the time to read the linked column either right now or at the end of reading this column…thanks!]
Which is why I call it Technological intelligence. It is intelligence that resides in technology. It is real intelligence. It is not artificial. It is real, albeit a new form of intelligence. It could be called New Intelligence, but since we humans are comfortable with technology, TI is a better name.
To those that are fearful, I ask you, what is it that you are fearful of? What could TI do that would be bad for humanity?
Maybe TI would start a war in Europe?
Maybe TI would start a war in the Middle East?
Maybe TI might create unprecedented global wealth inequality?
Maybe TI might create a climate crisis?
Wait! Wait!
All of that exists because of humans. Humans created these dangerous problems.
The history of humanity is one of humans killing and harming other humans, animals and plants. In our history books, we don’t read about the 30-year peace; we read about the 30-year war.
Humans go to war.
Humans hurt other humans.
Humans use their “non-artificial” intelligence to kill everything.
Humans always seem to have the “other” with which to fight or be against.
So what are you fearful of with TI?
Humanity seems to be creating one more “other.” In this case, we are making a technological other. AI is the new “other.”
The fascinated group, of which I am a member, sees TI as transformational. We see it as one of the biggest, greatest, most disruptive technologies in the history of our species. We have entered the Age of Intelligence. TI may become one of the most significant technological inventions/discoveries in history. It may well define the 21st century as the Atom Bomb and Computers shaped and defined the 20th century.
Here are some visions that we in the fascinated group see when we look at the potential of TI:
-providing ways to face the climate crisis since humanity is failing at this challenge
-solving ways to treat disease
-as Big Data was and is real-time sociology, TI using Big Data will be real-time problem-solving big and small.
Think about seeing a doctor because you have some medical condition. You have an appointment with a doctor, and she examines you and calls upon her knowledge and expertise to diagnose your condition. She knows a lot, has a great “bedside manner,” and is concerned about your well-being. With TI she can – during your examination – call up all recorded medical records globally about people who have your symptoms to see what treatments worked the best. Not just one doctor’s educated diagnosis but all the doctors in the world who have successfully treated your condition.
TI will be the tool that finds the solution for the common cold, in addition to the breakthroughs with many terminal diseases.
Think of TI as the technology that can improve the human condition in the 21st century.