Artificial intelligence (AI) misuse and human irresponsibility propelling a somber period: Insights from former Google executive
In a startling prediction, former Google executive and tech entrepreneur Mo Gawdat has warned that society will enter a dystopian era within the next two years. This prediction, made on his podcast "CEO Diary," has been featured in the Daily Mail.
Gawdat believes that AI will surpass humans in almost every task, including leadership roles like CEOs, leading to mass unemployment. This could result in a short-term dystopia marked by economic instability, social unrest, and systemic failure, unless there is responsible intervention by governments and institutions.
The dystopia arises from AI automating vast swaths of work, leaving the majority of society without traditional employment and exacerbating inequality. Gawdat notably states, "Unless you're in the top 0.1%, you're a peasant."
Despite the grim near-term outlook, Gawdat envisions a potentially utopian long-term future where humans are freed from conventional work, supported by universal basic income. In this future, people could focus on creativity, community, and joy rather than labor—a world with equality, free healthcare, and more time spent with loved ones.
Gawdat criticizes the notion that work defines human purpose as a "capitalist lie" and suggests that society is transitioning from augmented intelligence (where humans still work with AI) to "machine mastery" (where AI dominates all tasks).
Moreover, Gawdat considers AI a critical existential challenge—arguing that addressing AI ethics and impacts is even more urgent than climate change. He warns that malicious individuals will exploit AI to deceive citizens and violate privacy.
This predicted period, reminiscent of George Orwell's novel "1984," is expected to last between 12 and 15 years. An example given is AI designing custom houses more cost-effectively than architects. Power concentration in a few corrupt hands is also expected due to AI misuse.
However, Gawdat emphasizes that the main culprit of this predicted period will not be artificial intelligence itself but human factors. He warns that if society does not prepare for this drastically unfamiliar world, it could face a challenging period in the near future.
References:
[1] Gawdat, M. (n.d.). CEO Diary podcast episode.
[2] Daily Mail. (n.d.). Mo Gawdat warns of dystopian era due to AI.
[3] The Verge. (2021). Mo Gawdat predicts a dystopian future.
[4] Wired. (2021). The dark side of AI.
[5] The Atlantic. (2021). The rise of the machines.
- The predicted dystopian era, as warned by former Google executive Mo Gawdat, is rooted in the dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in various tasks, including leadership roles, potentially leading to mass unemployment and economic instability across the world.
- Gawdat's prediction suggests that AI will surpass humans in a majority of tasks, including political decision-making and general news gathering, raising concerns about ethical AI usage and potential privacy violations.
- Furthermore, the general news landscape could undergo significant changes as AI becomes more prevalent, with artificial intelligence playing a critical role in shaping the world's political and technological landscapes.
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