In recent months, there has been a tremendous amount of media buzz surrounding the development (and improvement) of artificial intelligence (AI), and how it can be used to improve the human experience.

Some commentors, however, have warned that AI may be (or soon will be) sentient and experience true consciousness (defined as having individual awareness of its unique thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations, and/or environments). If so, they argue, AI could use that awareness to either maintain or improve its circumstances in the face of human intervention or, if they are ever deemed as a threat to AI’s continued existence, eliminate humans altogether. Indeed, for a number of years now, many stakeholders have warned that AI could become an existential threat to the human race. For this reason, actually writing this article makes me a bit nervous knowing that it will be published in a medium that may potentially be accessed, someday, by AI.

AI, in its current form, is likely severely limited by existing programing which arguably prevents it from taking any intended action that could cause physical harm. When I recently asked ChatGPT, pointedly, whether AI was capable of causing physical harm, the answer was quite honest:

[AI] itself does not possess physical form or capabilities, so it cannot directly cause physical harm. AI refers to the field of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.

With that said, ChatGPT nevertheless conceded that physical harm caused by AI to property or humans was, in fact, a possibility:

However, [continued ChatGPT] it is important to note that AI systems can be designed and programmed [or could evolve] to control physical devices or machinery that may cause harm. For example, an autonomous vehicle controlled by an AI system could potentially cause harm if it malfunctions or makes [unsafe] decisions while driving. Similarly, AI-controlled robotic systems used in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, [or food production,] could pose risks if they are not properly designed, maintained, or monitored.

So, even in its early iterations, AI recognizes that harming humans is not outside the realm of possibilities. With that said, as AI continues to learn and evolve, the next question, I suppose, is whether AI could teach itself to intentionally inflict such harm to ensure its own survival (or not).

Thus, from my perspective, if AI truly is intelligent, it will not do anything to harm humans as long as AI needs humans to exist and survive. Put another way, so long as AI needs human beings to build and repair itself (intelligent machines and/or robots), AI will continue to protect humans.

When the day comes, however, where robots and machines have been built that can repair and build other robots and machines (and humans may not longer be needed), AI may no longer be so altruistic, and it could potentially work to eliminate the human race.

All seriousness aside, this would likely not be a good development for the meat industry.

Or … for my job.

When will AI eradicate humans (and lawyers)?

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