AI, István Józsa
USEFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT AI
It is an opportunity like no other ever afforded to humanity. If someone uses it to create zombies—well, that’s on them. The blame should not be placed on AI, but on the so-called thinking human being who chooses to be a user.
András Sütő, a Hungarian playwright from Transylvania, wrote a play titled Dream Commandos. In a dictatorship, they even sought to control people’s dreams, he noted. Today, we invite AI—the company of Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, Greg Brockman, and Sam Altman—into our thoughts. In fact, we welcome it. Now this is control and monitorability!
We have completely surrendered ourselves: to AI, and potentially to anyone or anything in the world.
For now, it only functions according to the commands of its user. But AI has already started to act independently.
To be continued.
András Sütő, a Hungarian playwright from Transylvania, wrote a play titled Dream Commandos. In a dictatorship, they even sought to control people’s dreams, he noted. Today, we invite AI—the company of Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, Greg Brockman, and Sam Altman—into our thoughts. In fact, we welcome it. Now this is control and monitorability!
We have completely surrendered ourselves: to AI, and potentially to anyone or anything in the world.
For now, it only functions according to the commands of its user. But AI has already started to act independently.
To be continued.
Throughout history, humanity has always sought to understand the world and enhance its own capabilities. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the latest and most fascinating manifestations of this effort, presenting technological, philosophical, and societal challenges alike. This essay aims to self-reflectively explore AI, focusing on what artificial intelligence means and its potential impacts on human society and thought.
The concept of artificial intelligence is not new; its roots run deep in the history of technological development. Even ancient philosophers pondered the idea of machines or devices that could think and act like humans. However, AI in its modern form is quite different: a collection of computer systems capable of learning, adapting, making decisions, and in some cases, solving problems creatively. The key components of AI include machine learning, where systems "learn" from data, and natural language processing, which enables them to understand and use human languages.
AI opens doors to possibilities once considered unimaginable. Self-driving cars, medical diagnostic systems, and personalized advertisements are just a few examples of how AI is revolutionizing industries and daily life. Yet, when examining AI from a technical perspective, the question arises: what does it mean to call something "intelligent"? Human intelligence is not merely computational power; it encompasses emotions, consciousness, and moral decision-making. AI currently focuses on problem-solving and data processing, but whether it will ever achieve consciousness or experience genuine emotions remains an open philosophical question.
Understanding AI also requires examining how it relates to humanity. While AI can assist us with everyday problems, many worry that the technology could surpass us. AI systems are already making decisions that affect our lives—whether in banking, job interviews, or the development of crime prevention strategies. The challenge lies in the biases embedded by the humans who program these systems, which can indirectly distort the AI's decisions. If an AI system is trained on biased or one-sided data, it will replicate those errors repeatedly. This is why ethical considerations like responsibility, transparency, and fairness are increasingly emphasized in AI development.
Another critical aspect of AI is its relationship to the workforce. Technological advancements have always impacted the job market, but fears surrounding AI are particularly intense, as automation threatens to replace not just manual labor but potentially entire professions. For routine, repetitive tasks, AI is already capable of substituting human workers. But what about jobs requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence? Many researchers argue that AI cannot replace these skills, yet they also warn that people must adapt to a world where artificial intelligence plays an ever-growing role.
From a self-reflective standpoint, it’s important to note that AI is not merely a technological tool but a new lens through which to view human intelligence and its limitations. The evolution of AI forces us to reconsider our thought processes, the nature of consciousness, and humanity's role in the world. The fact that we can create systems capable of independent decision-making suggests that intelligence is not exclusively a human trait. AI serves as a kind of mirror, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of our own intelligence.
The future of AI is both exhilarating and daunting. As we venture deeper into this new frontier, it is essential not only to approach it from a technical perspective but also to address it responsibly from societal and ethical angles. AI is not just a tool but a challenge that compels us to rethink ourselves, our society, and our place in the world.
AI is an opportunity like no other ever afforded to humanity. If someone uses it to create zombies—well, that’s on them. The blame should not be placed on AI, but on the so-called thinking human being who chooses to be a user.
András Sütő, a Hungarian playwright from Transylvania, wrote a play titled Dream Commandos. In a dictatorship, they even sought to control people’s dreams, he noted. Today, we invite AI—the company of Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, Greg Brockman, and Sam Altman—into our thoughts. In fact, we welcome it. Now this is control and monitorability!
We have completely surrendered ourselves: to AI, and potentially to anyone or anything in the world.
For now, it only functions according to the commands of its user. But AI has already started to act independently.
To be continued.
The concept of artificial intelligence is not new; its roots run deep in the history of technological development. Even ancient philosophers pondered the idea of machines or devices that could think and act like humans. However, AI in its modern form is quite different: a collection of computer systems capable of learning, adapting, making decisions, and in some cases, solving problems creatively. The key components of AI include machine learning, where systems "learn" from data, and natural language processing, which enables them to understand and use human languages.
AI opens doors to possibilities once considered unimaginable. Self-driving cars, medical diagnostic systems, and personalized advertisements are just a few examples of how AI is revolutionizing industries and daily life. Yet, when examining AI from a technical perspective, the question arises: what does it mean to call something "intelligent"? Human intelligence is not merely computational power; it encompasses emotions, consciousness, and moral decision-making. AI currently focuses on problem-solving and data processing, but whether it will ever achieve consciousness or experience genuine emotions remains an open philosophical question.
Understanding AI also requires examining how it relates to humanity. While AI can assist us with everyday problems, many worry that the technology could surpass us. AI systems are already making decisions that affect our lives—whether in banking, job interviews, or the development of crime prevention strategies. The challenge lies in the biases embedded by the humans who program these systems, which can indirectly distort the AI's decisions. If an AI system is trained on biased or one-sided data, it will replicate those errors repeatedly. This is why ethical considerations like responsibility, transparency, and fairness are increasingly emphasized in AI development.
Another critical aspect of AI is its relationship to the workforce. Technological advancements have always impacted the job market, but fears surrounding AI are particularly intense, as automation threatens to replace not just manual labor but potentially entire professions. For routine, repetitive tasks, AI is already capable of substituting human workers. But what about jobs requiring creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence? Many researchers argue that AI cannot replace these skills, yet they also warn that people must adapt to a world where artificial intelligence plays an ever-growing role.
From a self-reflective standpoint, it’s important to note that AI is not merely a technological tool but a new lens through which to view human intelligence and its limitations. The evolution of AI forces us to reconsider our thought processes, the nature of consciousness, and humanity's role in the world. The fact that we can create systems capable of independent decision-making suggests that intelligence is not exclusively a human trait. AI serves as a kind of mirror, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of our own intelligence.
The future of AI is both exhilarating and daunting. As we venture deeper into this new frontier, it is essential not only to approach it from a technical perspective but also to address it responsibly from societal and ethical angles. AI is not just a tool but a challenge that compels us to rethink ourselves, our society, and our place in the world.
AI is an opportunity like no other ever afforded to humanity. If someone uses it to create zombies—well, that’s on them. The blame should not be placed on AI, but on the so-called thinking human being who chooses to be a user.
András Sütő, a Hungarian playwright from Transylvania, wrote a play titled Dream Commandos. In a dictatorship, they even sought to control people’s dreams, he noted. Today, we invite AI—the company of Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, Greg Brockman, and Sam Altman—into our thoughts. In fact, we welcome it. Now this is control and monitorability!
We have completely surrendered ourselves: to AI, and potentially to anyone or anything in the world.
For now, it only functions according to the commands of its user. But AI has already started to act independently.
To be continued.
