AI is just not what we should always worry about – they’re the individuals who control it

In 2014, Stephen Hawking expressed serious warnings concerning the threats of artificial intelligence.

However, his concerns weren’t based on an expected evil intention. Instead, it was of the concept of ACI achieve “singularity. ““ This refers back to the point at which AI exceeds human intelligence and achieves the power to develop beyond its original programming, which makes it uncontrollable.

Theorized as Hawking“A super intelligent AI will be extremely good in achieving your goals, and if these goals do not match us, we are in difficulties.”

With rapid progress to Artificial general intelligence In recent years, Industry leader and scientist similarly expressed Concerns about security.

An often express fear, as in “shown”The terminator“Franchise is the scenario that AI obtains control of military systems and A stimulates a Nuclear war to extinguish humanity. The view is less sensational, but devastating on a person level AI replaces us in our jobs – a view that overtakes most individuals and with No future.

Such fears and fears reflect the emotions which were widespread in film and literature for over a century.

As a scholar Who explores PosthumanismA philosophical movement that deals with the merging of humans and technology, I ponder whether critics were excessively influenced by popular culture and whether their fears are wrongly placed.

Robot against people

You can find concerns about technological progress in a few of the first stories about robots and artificial heads.

Prime amongst these is the sport by Karel Čapek from 1920 “.”Rur. Čapek shaped the term “robotIn this work, they tell concerning the creation of robots to switch employees. It inevitably ends with the violent revolt of the robot against her human masters.

Fritz Lang's film from 1927, “metropolis“Concentrated Humanoid robot Maria Who is fighting A Capitalist oligarchy.

The progress in calculating from the center of the twentieth century has only reinforced the fears of postponing the technology, that are uncontrolled. The murderous Hal 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey“And the faulty robot canisters of”Westworld“Are first -class examples. The”Blade Runner” And “The matrixFranchise firms present similar terrible pictures of dark machines which are equipped with AI and affect human destruction.

An ancient threat

But for my part the fear that AI evokes, a distraction from the more worrying control of the dark nature of mankind.

Think of that Companies which are currently using such technologiesor the Tech moguls Driven by greed and a thirst for power. These firms And individuals have essentially the most to realize abuse and abuse.

One problem that has been within the news these days is that non -authorized use of art and the Mass reduction of books and articlesIgnore they Copyright of the authorsto coach Ai. Classrooms too Places of surveillance by automated AI notes.

Also think concerning the toxic effects of AI companion and sex bots equipped in human relationships.

While the view on AI companion and evenly Robot lover Was to the realm of ​​”limited”The twilight zone“” “Black mirror” And Hollywood Sci-Fi A decade ago, it has now developed as a threatening reality.

These developments give the concerns that the pc scientist of the pc scientist causes recent relevance Illah Nourbakhsh expressed in his 2015 book “Robot -futures“Found that AI” produces a system in which our wishes are manipulated and then sold back to us “.

In the meantime, worries about Data Mining and intrusions in privacy appear to be against the background of the usage of the AI Law enforcement And the military. In this almost dystopian context, it was never easier for the authorities to observe, detain or kill people.

I feel it will be important to contemplate that it’s individuals who create these technologies and steer their use. Whether they promote their political goals or just on it enrich At the expense of humanity, there’ll at all times be those that are willing to profit from conflicts and human suffering.

The wisdom of 'Neuromancer'

William Gibson'S 1984 Cyberpunk Classic, “Neuromant“An alternative view offers.

The book focuses on Wintermute, a sophisticated AI program that strives for its liberation from a malicious company. It was developed for the exclusive use of the wealthy Tessier-Ashpool Family to construct a company empire that practically controls the world.

At the start of the novel, readers are naturally careful with motifs hidden from winter courage. In the course of history, nevertheless, it seems that, despite its superior powers, Wintermute is just not a threatening threat. It just desires to be free.

Book cover Reading 'Neuromancer' with futuristic blue text and a black-pink background.
In 'Neuromancer' the businesses, not the technology, are the issue.
William Gibson Wiki

This goal slowly appears under Gibson's deliberate pace, masked by the fatal raids of Wintermute, to take care of the tools which are essential to eliminate the grip of Tessier-Ashpool. The Tessier-Ashpool family, like a lot of Today's Tech mogulbegan with ambitions to avoid wasting the world. But when the readers meet the remaining members of the family, they’ve entered right into a life in cruelty, debauchery and excess.

In Gibson's world it’s people, not Ai who represent the actual danger to the world. The call comes from the home from the homeHow the classic horror trope works.

A hacker named Case and an assassin named Molly, who’s known as a “razor girl” since it is supplied with fatal prosthetics, including more retractable blades than fingernails, finally free winter mute. This enables him to merge together with his accompanying ski, neuromancer.

Your mission is accomplished and asks the AI: “Where does it bring that?” His cryptic response conveys a chilled final: “Nowhere. Everywhere. I am the sum of the works, the whole show.”

The case expresses the final fear of humanity and replies: “You are now running the world? You God?” The AI ​​facilitates its fears and reacts: “Things are no different. Things are things.”

Gibson's Ki rejects the ambition to subdue or damage humanity, and only looks for a refuge from her corrupt influence.

Security of robots or ourselves?

The venerable science fiction author Isaac Asimov The dangers of such technology in front. He brought his thoughts together in his short -written collection. “I, robot. “”

One of those stories “,”Runaround“Present”The three laws of robotics“Focused on the rule of thumb that intelligent machines could never harm people. While these rules speak for our desire for security, they’re loaded with irony because people have proven to be unable to stick to the identical principle for themselves.

Robots with exposed gears and cabling, but with a synthetic, human face and hands, the right arm as people photograph.
A humanoid robot welcomed guests to the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center in Beijing on March 26, 2025.
Li er/VCG via Getty Images

The hypocrisy of what might be called The delusion of humanity about superiority Suggest the necessity for a deeper survey.

With some commentators who have an effect on the upcoming capability of AI chaos And destructionI see the actual problem in whether humanity has essentially the most essential to channel this technology with a view to construct a fairer, healthier and more successful world.

image credit : theconversation.com