A threat or a gift?

SOME people highlight the negative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and try to undermine its importance. Earlier, we used to give commands to computers and robots. But, the advancement in science and technology has enabled us to produce robots and machines that do not require our commands to function. AI is one such technology, enabling robots to make decisions on their own without human intervention.
It is worth mentioning that all the things which were once beyond our imagination, are now a part of our daily lives. Similarly, AI is bound to be a significant tool in our lives. Some experts and scientists believe that it may become as important as a ventilator for a patient.
The opponents of AI technology argue that it has deprived humans of a number of job opportunities. This may well be true. However, if we analyse the situation closely and on a wider scale, we will realise that the problem of unemployment is actually decreasing with the birth of new branches in the industrial sector. Hence, AI is not a threat or a curse; it is a great gift of science that aims at making our lives easier.
Many writers and philosophers believe that human beings would suffer a lot and would become slaves of these robots in the future, but researchers do not agree with such an opinion. They are very clear that humans are developing these robots, and they know what to do and how to use them to their benefit. Just like every lock has a key, every working robot is controlled with algorithms. The human control over robots, as it exists today, is complete.
Mian Farhan Mahmood
Lahore
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024