Final thoughts

Terry Benzschawel

Some have argued that the world is worse off for the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. But is that true? Advances in human science and technology, notwithstanding the occasional disaster, have enabled over 8 billion humans to populate the Earth. World War II taught us that nuclear devices can end human existence, but advancements in science and technology in the 70 years since the use of automation in the NC3 system was first introduced have taken place despite the possibility of nuclear destruction. The paradigm of world peace has failed us and AI is not at fault.¹¹ My generation is the first that has never known a time devoid of nuclear weapons.

In addition to war, human existence is threatened by climate change, increasing wealth disparity, overpopulation, distrust of governments and institutions (see Figure 19.1), uncertain news credibility and a documented global increase in anxiety. Sheppard (2020) foresees disaster unless these problems are solved within the next 10 years. If this prophesy is true, critics of AI should consider how humans might deal with these problems in a world without it.

Despite the potential of AI to advance the economy and