On 4 May 2017, the FT published an article entitled: “Artificial intelligence closes in on the work of junior lawyers”. Several other media reported similar stories (e.g., Axios, Nikkei, NYT). My main concern was and still is: If junior lawyers will soon no longer be necessary then how will we get senior lawyers in due time??
Learning and teaching are essential in human history. The best and the brightest end on top of human pyramids (society). Removing (human) layers would imply that the pyramid’s top gets lower and the base wider. Depending on your beliefs: (in)equality increases. Like in George Orwell‘s Animal Farm: All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
I’ve never linked Artificial Intelligence – or AI – to the 7 Belief systems and its Knowledge domain (Philosophy, Science, the Truth) and its Power domain (Money, Politics, Religion). I did link AI to human consciousness and self-awareness. I failed to see the next 2 steps: human thinking and human beliefs. The Dutch interviews (28 April, 4 May) with German philosopher Bettina Stangneth, on her 2016 book Thinking Evil, enabled my current thinking.
Artificial Intelligence is driven by the Knowledge domain (Science) and the Power domain (Money – or Profit). The latter will result in massive job losses as expensive labour and intensive human tasks will be replaced by 24/7 AI robotics. Even jobs that require Knowledge are now vulnerable as AI robotics are superior in speed, quality and quantity. Only jobs that require Imagination (eg, artists, criminals, hairdressers, writers) are – sofar – safe.
Knowledge has been transferred to machines since the Technological Revolution of 1800-2100. These machines were largely tools (eg, Internet) for information storage and for subsequent use in human learning and teaching. Human jobs are based on the same principle: experienced and skilled seniors train juniors to become their replacement on retirement.
Until now, the human equation Knowledge = Power (Wiki-1, Wiki-2, my blog) has been leading. Transferring human Knowledge to Artificially Intelligent machines may change this equation. It might become like Knowledgeable robots = human Power. When conscious and self-aware AI robots would read the book Thinking Evil, this new balance may be short-lived.
The phases of the Technological Revolution of 1800-2100 can be summarised as follows:
- 19th Century and mechanization. This resulted in high unemployment, the start of international terrorism (Anarchism), and the start of a political revolution (Communism).
- 20th Century and automation. This resulted in a culture of an extreme belief in Money (“Greed is Good”), a 3rd wave of terrorism (Red Armies), and the start of anti-globalism as a new political movement.
- 21st Century and Artificial Intelligence & robotics. This is likely to cause massive job losses, a 4th (and 5th??) wave of terrorism (eg, Islamic terrorism), and political revolutions (eg, Nationalism, Political Islam).
Worst of all, Urbanization is likely to work as a pressure cooker in human societies, and Artificial Intelligence and robotics like a sledgehammer.
Sledgehammer (1986) by Peter Gabriel – artist, FB, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
all you do is call me
I’ll be anything you need
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